Chapter 10: Assuming the Best
Later that week, Sweetie was wrapping up another lesson with Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus hadn't seemed shocked at all by Sweetie's new paw. In fact, Fluttershy had taken a close interest in it, amazed to see the joints and everything else in action, and even pointing out where several of the middle pieces didn't quite match those of a real canine foot.
After saying her goodbyes, Sweetie Belle was singing a simple tune, happy as could be with the glorious spring weather as she trotted back to town after the time she'd spent with the kind pegasus and her animals. Then they happened.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were walking up the road toward her, and moved to block her from passing.
"Hey, gimpy!' Diamond said in her usual mocking tone. "You gonna be a pirate next talent show?"
"Yeah, pegleg!" Silver chimed in. "Or are ya turnin' into a dog?"
"Oh, maybe she's a scurvy sea dog?"
Sweetie felt time slow down. Or maybe her thoughts just sped up. She still wasn't sure quite how that ability worked. The result, at least from her perspective, was the same though. She had all the time in the world. The question was, what to do with it.
These two troublemakers had been harassing her and her friends—as well as the rest of the foals at school—for years. In her previous encounters with the duo, before she'd discovered the extent of her abilities, she'd always been shy. The mocking the two delivered just made her want to tuck her tail and run, avoiding any undue attention. Now though, there was something different.
For one, she was now possibly the most powerful unicorn—or unicorn-like golem—in the world. With the power in her magic, she could slice them in two faster than she had the wolf. That'd be messy, though. She could vaporize them, of course, letting them evaporate into whiffs of hydrogen, ozone, and carbon monoxide. She could flay them, boil their blood, or crush them like they'd been hit by a train. Scaling down from there, she could snap a few bones, or set their tails on fire, causing only some temporary pain. She could even just fuse their hooves together, turn them plaid, and hang them from the weathervane on top of the schoolhouse to be mocked. Skipping magic entirely, she could simply scratch them with her new claws, or push them into the muddy ditch beside the road. She could do anything, and for her, "anything" was a much larger set of options than for most any other pony in existence.
But there was a second, much more important thing which was different now as well. Sweetie had come to know herself. She knew who she truly was. That's where real power came from, and what bullies exploited when they found it lacking. They dug at insecurities they could sense in others, mocking them and teasing even the slightest of differences, no matter how trivial. But Sweetie Belle realized now, in this clear moment, that power was lost forever to these two, at least over her.
What she knew about herself was that it wasn't in her to be mean or vindictive. Because of that, she knew she never would do any of those awful things, even though she could. When she'd killed the timberwolf, it had been a last resort—the only way to save her friends. Even then, she'd taken care to make sure the creature suffered as little as possible. That creature, vicious though it may have been, actually deserved more respect than the two fillies before her in a way. It was a beast, operating on instinct, and likely diseased. It may have had no idea what it was doing.
These two however, did things with actual intent to cause direct harm, albeit on a small and reversible scale. As such, it was strangely harder to sympathize with them than the monstrous creature that had ripped her own leg off. Still though, she felt bad for them. She wondered what must've happened in their lives to make them so miserable. What must it be like to live a life where lashing out and mocking others is the only way you've found to interact with other ponies? Sweetie found that, despite their flaws, she could only feel sorry for the two. She had the best friends in the world, a loving family, and everything else that mattered. She had to assume that, as much as they seemed cold and heartless on the outside, these two must have it so much worse than anypony imagined to always lash out like they do, and they really just needed a friend. So, she did the only thing she could.
She hugged them.
----
"You did what?" Apple Bloom said, after meeting up with Sweetie and Scootaloo in the treehouse for another sleepover.
"I hugged them both, and invited them to come see our new headquarters!"
"Those two? Seriously?" Scootaloo said, sounding a bit miffed herself.
"Well, you invited them to your cutecenera."
"That was different. I wanted them to see how awesome I was."
"Well, I'm being sincere about it. I really hope they come visit sometime."
"But... Why?" Apple Bloom said. "Ya know those two are always just makin' trouble and bein' mean."
"I don't know, I think maybe they just need friends."
"But we tried bein' their friends," Apple Bloom said. "It didn't work!"
"Did you really try, though?"
"Yeah," Scootaloo said. "Like AB said, it didn't work with those two!"
"So you tried being friends the same way you tried to fly?"
Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle while trying to think of a retort, but Sweetie just continued.
"When you couldn't fly, you kept trying. You kept trying longer and harder than any pegasus I've ever heard of. You didn't give up. And Apple Bloom," Sweetie said, turning to the earth pony. "How hard did you try? Did you try as hard as you did to save your sister?"
"Sweetie," Apple Bloom said. "That ain't the same thing..."
"It is!" Sweetie Belle said, more determined than ever now to get her point across. "It is the same thing! You can't give up on something just because it's hard; not if it's the right thing to do."
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom both laid their ears flat at the chastisement. Sweetie took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before she continued.
"Look, I know it's hard. Diamond and Silver are mean. They've teased us all for years. But when they got in my way yesterday, something just clicked. What if, instead of seeing them only as the mean bullies they always act like, we try to assume the best? I really think that, underneath it all, they're just lonely and sad. We should be the bigger ponies, and reach out to help them, even if it means we have to keep trying over and over."
"Assume the best?" Scootaloo said. "What if what's underneath is even worse?"
"How much worse could it be?" Sweetie said jokingly. "I mean, what're they going to do, call you chicken and attack you with a giant timberwolf?"
Scootaloo laughed, and Apple Bloom chuckled as well.
"That's my point," Sweetie said. "I don't think they can hurt us anymore. After what we've seen and done, a few insults from a couple of spoiled brats is just a joke. But it's not a joke if we can actually help two fillies become better ponies, right?"
"Yeah," Apple Bloom said, nodding sincerely now. "If it were any other ponies, I wouldn't have questioned ya wanting to make friends. But yer right, we need to assume the best in everypony, even those two. Maybe we'll end up helpin' some other foals too, if we can get those bullies to quit teasin' everypony."
The two then looked at Scootaloo.
"Okay," she said. "I'm in. Trying to be friends with them can't be any harder than rocket science."
"What's a 'rocket'?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Tell you later. I think you'll love it!"
"Okay!" Sweetie said, putting her hoof out. "On three?"
The other fillies put their hooves in as well, and on three shouted, "Cutie Mark Crusaders: Friendship Initiators!"
----
Later that night, long after the moon had reached its zenith, the Crusaders were awoken by the sounds of howling.
"What was that?" Apple Bloom said, the first to fully wake up. Looking at the windows, she could see the sky bright with a nearly full moon, shining on nearby branches, but not even a hint of dawn. She was about to roll over and go back to sleep when she heard another howl. "You girls hear that?"
Rubbing her eyes, Sweetie looked up from her sleeping bag. "What's going on, Bloom?"
Another howl served as an answer.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom both got up and went to look out the windows as the howling continued. While the moon lit the orchard and the forest in the distance, it did little to reveal details on the ground from the altitude of the treehouse. Sweetie opened the door and walked onto the back porch.
The chill night air whipped into the headquarters, causing the still sleeping Scootaloo to roll over and pull her sleeping bag tight around her head. "Come on, Scootaloo, get up," Apple Bloom said, nudging the pegasus with a hoof. The gesture was ignored like the wind though, and Apple Bloom went to the porch to join Sweetie.
The next howls sounded much louder without glass and doors in the way, and combined with a well timed gust of wind. Scootaloo leapt out of bed with a shriek.
"What the hay was that?" she said a moment later, hovering near the ceiling in the far corner.
Apple Bloom turned to look inside from the porch, and explained what they were hearing. Joining them on the porch as the howls continued, Scootaloo leaned over the railing. "Sounds like they're coming from right below us."
"Yeah, I was thinkin' the same thing," Apple Bloom said.
"You think it's more timberwolves?"
"I'd say that's a fair bet."
The howls, which had been singular and intermittent, now sang together, multiple voices joined in a chorus.
"Ugh..." Scootaloo said, shivering. "That's creepy sounding!"
"Yeah," Apple Bloom said. "It's eerie. Gives me goosebumps."
"I think it's beautiful," Sweetie Belle said. "They sound so incredibly sad, yet they're still singing."
The other two looked over at the unicorn. She was sitting on her haunches, nose up, eyes closed, letting the moonlight wash over her as she listened. The sounds struck a chord deep inside her, bringing back the guilt she felt for killing the timberwolf. She was glad she'd saved her friends, of course, but in the time since, her mind kept returning to that moment, thinking there must've been some other way. Even though it had been trying... no... that's not right, she thought. The timberwolf was a living creature, not a thing. "She" was the pronoun. Even though she had been trying to kill Sweetie too, the timberwolf still deserved better. She was probably only protecting herself, or maybe these others howling below. It probably wasn't her fault that she'd gotten in a fight with Applejack and Winona. But at the end, there was no other option. It was her or Scootaloo.
Tears began to form in Sweetie's eyes as the other two watched. "I think they knew the one I killed," Sweetie said, when a lull in the howling came a moment later. Opening her eyes, she turned to her friends. "I think they're here for her."
Not sure what to do, Apple Bloom responded with a shrug. "I'm not sure that's how they even think, Sweetie."
"Yeah, Sweetie," Scootaloo added. "I'm sure they're just howling because the moon's out and stuff."
The unicorn stood, walking back inside the clubhouse. "I don't think so," she said, retrieving the splinter she'd found in her hoof during the previous sleepover. "They're mourning. I have to let them say goodbye. I have to go apologize."
"Whadaya mean?" Apple Bloom said. "You're not going down there, are you?"
"I am."
"That's crazy!" Scootaloo said, moving to block the front door.
"It's okay, Scootaloo," Sweetie said. "Don't worry, I don't think they mean to hurt anypony." And with that, she disappeared in a flash of light.
Facehooving, Scootaloo turned and flew out the door, as Apple Bloom made for the long staircase behind her.
Sweetie Belle wasn't stupid. She'd teleported to the lower part of the staircase, rather than all the way down, giving her the chance to survey things and descend the last dozen yards on hoof. She saw three timberwolves a small ways out from the trunk. They were small—for timberwolves—each standing maybe just a bit larger than Celestia. They were sitting in a rough circle, facing one another, snouts held high to the moon and branches. As she descended, the howling stopped and they turned to watch her. With each step, they appeared to get more nervous, green eyes glowing brighter, lips curling to reveal sharp fangs. She could feel their tension, their nervousness at this unknown intruder. It was only natural that they'd respond this way.
The thump of hooves on wood sounded behind Sweetie Belle, and the wolves began to growl. Sweetie turned and saw Scootaloo had landed a little ways above her on the spiral staircase. As the pegasus got sight of the wolves, her eyes widened, but she started to descend anyway. The wolves growled as she did, and Sweetie quickly held up a hoof, telling her to stop. As she did so though, louder hoofsteps sounded from above, and Scootaloo was quickly joined by Apple Bloom.
"Girls, please. Stop," Sweetie said, pleading quietly with her friends.
Looking at the glowing eyes and growling jaws behind their friend, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were reluctant to agree.
"Please," Sweetie continued. "I have to do this. Trust me."
Trust. The two knew they couldn't afford to lose trust in their friend. Even if she was acting a bit crazy, well...
Apple Bloom thought back to when she'd first brought a knife to their clubhouse, relying on her friends not to desert her after she told them her weird story, hoping they'd trust her, and not think she was crazy. She had to do the same for Sweetie now. "Okay, Sweetie," she said.
Scootaloo thought along similar lines, remembering the trust her friends put in her nearly every time she came up with some convoluted stunt to earn their marks. Then there were all the times they'd blindly hopped into the wagon and let her drag them throughout town at insane speeds. Sweetie had earned her trust, and so Scootaloo stopped her descent, nodding in acquiescence.
Smiling, Sweetie turned to face the timberwolves. The trio was still growling lowly, and were stalking slowly toward the base of the stairs. Sweetie took a few hesitant steps down the stairs to meet them. With each step she made, the wolves would growl or otherwise show their nervousness. Using what she'd learned working with Fluttershy, Sweetie knew to take it slow, let the creatures get used to each movement. The important thing was not to surprise them. This let her slowly descend without provoking an attack. When she got to within a dozen steps of the bottom, the wolves had reached the base of the stairs themselves. Each time she tried to take a further step though, the wolves would react much more aggressively than before, appearing ready to attack if she descended any lower, and she'd bring her leg back to the same step.
At an impasse, Sweetie knew she could use her magic at any point to restrain or block the wolves. She could hold them down, force them to the side, drive them off, or pretty much anything else... even kill them. But she wasn't here to attack or to fight. She had to assume they weren't either. There'd been enough of that already. She was here to apologize. So, she did the only thing she could.
She closed her eyes and began to sing.
The song was low—quiet at first, but building. It came out of the darkness, long, steady notes sweeping gently up and down in pitch. There were no words—at least none ever known to ponies—but it evoked a melancholic loneliness in all who heard it. As it grew louder, the notes of sadness and regret built slowly into a core melody, lilting and weaving through each other into higher, brighter ideals. Friendship, family, and camaraderie spun around each other, adding strength and purpose. Those grew, aiding, complementing one another, leading to a crescendo of pure, unassailable, and absolute determination. Three howls gradually joined in, speaking of love, of loss, and of hope. Sweetie's voice danced between them all, harmonizing, caressing, accepting each in fullness before moving to the next. A four-part harmony arose, waves of shared pain crashing and battering in an endless storm of fear before softer notes eventually washed onto a quiet shore. There, gentle notes rose and fell, lapping against the now sunny tones, healing wounded limbs and hearts. The opening melody then reapproached, coruscating notes a reminder of earlier sadness, but tempered now by higher peaks, hinting at a better path. Cooler moods arrived, drawing down the last residual heat from the crescendo. Fading, the melody wandered back into the darkness, melancholy voice still there, but no longer alone among the lingering howls.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had stood transfixed, mouths agape, eyes locked on the scene below them as Sweetie Belle had begun to sing in not-quite-words. The song was amazing in itself, like nothing they'd ever heard, but what was more amazing was the effect it had on the timberwolves below. The creatures had immediately stopped their menacing behavior, and by the time the melody had become apparent, all three wolves had sat down near the base of the stairs, leaving enough room for Sweetie to descend. And she had. That was what had really surprised the two. Sweetie had walked right off the stairs and stepped between them. As she sang, she moved from one to the next, touching them gently with her paw or a hoof. When the song finished, and the last howl faded, she was standing between all three of them. The spell appeared to be broken, and the two fillies were readying themselves to rush in if the worst happened.
Sweetie Belle opened her eyes and, smiling, looked at the three wolves around her. "Thank you," she said, tears running down her cheeks. The wolves stared down at her, their glowing eyes blinking slowly. "I'm sorry, but this is all I have." She extended her paw, the splinter from the wolf she'd killed held in the middle of it.
Sniffing, the first wolf came closer. It looked at the splinter, nosing it in her paw, before stepping back. Sweetie felt as if it was saying a sort of goodbye. The next one did the same, but whimpered slightly as it did so. The third also looked at it, but didn't step back. Instead, it pulled the splinter from her paw, setting it aside. Then, licking the tears off her cheek, it pulled the guilt from her heart as well.
Giggling at the wet surprise, Sweetie reached to pet the wolf. The wood felt curiously warm beneath her metal paw, its life, like her own, undeniably evident within what would otherwise be inanimate detritus. The wolf seemed to sense this as well, and leaned into the contact. At this, the other wolves came in closer, and she petted each in turn. Before long, all three were nuzzling and shoving each other, playfully vying for her attention.
"I don't believe it," Scootaloo said, looking over the railing from up on the stairs. "Are the timberwolves actually..."
"Yep... All waggin' their tails!" Apple Bloom said, smiling. "Actually," she said, looking closer before bursting into laughter. "I think Sweetie is too!"
Scootaloo saw it, and laughed herself. Then, small at their distance, but unmistakable still, they saw a flash on Sweetie Belle's hindquarters. Their eyes went wide at the realization. Sweetie had just found her cutie mark.
----
"I thought your song at the talent show was amazing," Scootaloo said, as the three returned to their clubhouse after the wolves had departed. "But that... There aren't words for whatever that was!" She looked toward Sweetie's flank yet again, still surprised by the newly manifested emblem. "No wonder you didn't get your mark at the talent show, if that's what you can do when you really sing!"
"That's a weird cutie mark ya got though," Apple Bloom said.
Sweetie craned her neck to look at her new cutie mark, and the other two stared as well. It was the paw print of a wolf—or perhaps her own metal limb—blue in color like her magic and blood. In front of it were three overlapping music notes, two purple, one pink, matching the colors of her mane. Above it all, two small stars.
"The notes make sense, considerin' the way ya just serenaded them wolves."
"Yeah, that was the most awesome thing I've ever heard!" Scootaloo said.
"What kinda song was that anyway, Sweetie?" Apple Bloom asked. "I ain't never heard that kinda language before."
Looking at her friend, Sweetie Belle smiled. "I don't know. I just opened up my heart and sang. It seemed like all I could do."
"Well, whatever it was, sure seemed to work. I'd never thought I'd see somepony pettin' and playin' with timberwolves like they was family pets."
"I think they accepted my apology, that's what matters."
"What was up with that?" Scootaloo asked. "I mean, timberwolves fight each other all the time."
"I'm not quite sure on the details, but I'm certain they knew the one I killed. Those might have been her cubs, or maybe just members of her pack, but they came here, seeking her."
"And you think they knew ya killed her?" Apple Bloom said.
"I'm sure of that. That's what the song was for. I was trying to let them know I had no choice, that I'd had to protect my own friends. They seemed to understand."
"I'm glad you got through to them and all," Scootaloo said. "But why would they be okay with the fact that you killed their mom or packmate or whatever?"
"I think... I think something was wrong with her. Timberwolves are vicious, sure, but not anymore than a lot of wild animals. The way that big one wouldn't give up, wouldn't stop coming after AJ, then us, even though we weren't really a threat was strange. On top of that, I don't think they're supposed to be that big either. I think it must've been sick. Maybe there's a timberwolf version of rabies that makes them big as well, or maybe it got into some poison joke. Either way, the wolves that came tonight seemed to understand that I'd had no choice. They were sad, but they were singing goodbye, not seeking revenge. I could just feel it."
With that, Apple Bloom finally understood. She finally got it. They'd had a scare a few years ago on the farm, when Winona had been bitten by a skunk which looked like it might be rabid, and Applejack had explained what the disease might do. The thought of having a loving friend lose control and attack everypony around them was unbearable. Having to kill your own friend to stop them would be even worse. Remembering how she'd felt about Winona, Apple Bloom now understood now why Sweetie Belle could feel so bad about what she'd done in killing the timberwolf. Even after it had injured Applejack, even after it attacked them all, even after it had ripped her own leg off, even then, seeing the creature at its worst, Sweetie would still always have been assuming the best.
Apple Bloom wrapped her friend in a massive and unexpected hug. "Don't ever change, Sweetie!" she said, crying. "Don't ever change!"
Sweetie Belle returned the hug, despite being unsure what had caused Apple Bloom's outburst. The earth pony let go after a moment, and stepped back.
"What was that for?" Scootaloo said, having watched from the sidelines.
"Sorry," Apple Bloom said, wiping tears from her eyes, but smiling. "It just, well, it finally made sense. I think I know what your cutie mark is for, Sweetie. Or at least part of it?"
"Yeah?" Sweetie said, curious.
"You got it for always assuming the best in everypony. Even Diamond Tiara. Even Silver Spoon. Even giant timberwolves tryin' to kill ya! You always assume the best, and because of that, ya end up makin' friends out of yer enemies."
The unicorn couldn't help but smile at the compliment. "I think that's a great way to put it."
"But what's the rest mean?" Scootaloo asked, gesturing toward the mark.
Sweetie thought for a minute before replying. "To start with, I think there's a literal aspect. I love singing of course, and the notes go with that. Likewise, I have an actual paw myself, a constant reminder of my underlying nature. Figuratively, I think it represents that idea I mentioned before. 'To thine own self be true.' For me, that means two things. The paw print in the back is blue, like my magic. That's what I am. It represents my golem nature, and the incredible power I have with that. Like the claws it shows, that power can be dangerous, even fatal. My own metal paw then, is a reminder of that feral power, as well as the fact that I used it to to kill a living creature. The notes in front though, that's the other part of me. That's who I choose to be. Like AB said, it's the part of me that tries to always assume the best in others. It's music, it's kindness, it's harmony, it's friendship. It's all the things that hold back that raw, feral power I have. The notes are in front because that's how I choose to approach the world."
"Like you were saying, how you could have hurt Diamond and Silver, but you hugged them instead?"
"Yeah.. I could've done anything to them, right? I mean, anything. Tied them up, covered them in mud, hurt them, even killed them... or worse. Much worse. My abilities are pretty powerful and with great power..."
"Comes great responsibility?" Scootaloo finished, impatient.
"No. With great power, there's a lot of temptation to use it. See, you two both got your cutie marks for using your magic in amazingly powerful ways. I think I got my mark for not using mine. I could have done anything to Diamond and Silver. I could have done anything to those three wolves. But I didn't. Instead, like AB said, I chose to make friends instead."
Scootaloo laughed. "If you look at it another way though, it's almost like you got your cutie mark for not killing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!"
"I wouldn't quite put it that way," Sweetie said, but laughed all the same. "Seriously though, I still expect both of you to try to be friends with them!"
"What about the stars?" Scootaloo asked. "They look a lot like the ones on my mark, and, now that I think about it, the ones over the tree on AB's as well."
The three ponies looked at their various marks, comparing with those of their friends. Each mark had two small stars in various places above the main body of the emblem. Apple Bloom made the connection first. "What if it's like Twilight's mark?" she said. "Ya know, she's got those five stars, representin' the other Elements."
"You mean the stars on each of our marks are the other two of us?"
"Yeah, why not?"
The three pondered this for a moment, and in unison shouted, "Cutie Mark Crusaders: Stellar Sisters Forever!"
Way to go Sweetie!
Nice work handling the bullies, dude.
And the mark... Wow.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Love the story! Keep it up!
That makes sense...
Why can't you up vote multiple times?
Very adorable to end this chapter on, and love the little song from within, to reach across a world.
With the Ragnarock theme from previous chapters... Sweetie Belle skips right over that, and over the North Sea, to be a female version of Nuada of the Silver Hand (as opposed to Tyr, who never got his hand back).
3527539 Thanks! Sweetie's arc was the hardest to write a satisfying close to.
3527540>>3527553 Thanks!
3527619 Heh, like Pinkie explained about wishes, upvotes are also unlimited. You share the story with friends, and they share it with their friends, and then everyone can upvote. In all seriousness, I'm glad you found it that good though.
3527623 Thanks! Like I noted, trying to write about music is a really weird thing.
3527927 Nuada? I hadn't heard of him before. Just looked it up... interesting bit of Irish folklore. Thanks!
saw update..... 0_0.....
AW HELL YEAH!
that is all.
so after litterally considering at least 20 different possible scenarios your outcome was a hug.....
im surprisingly cool with that but what im not cool with was the fact you didnt write their reactions!!!!
All right all of the Cutie Mark Crusaders got their cuties marks :D that is awesome for them now this is a weird but someone from hasbro make this an actual episode or movie, I don't care just do it Lauren Faust, this story is too good to miss out :D
This chapter was gorgeous...
I just realized, Sweetie Belle is probably the strongest one of the three. Sure, Scootaloo tore a hole in the sky to get her Cutie Mark, and Apple Bloom tore a hole in the ground, but both of them are nature based, and thus naturally alive. Apple Bloom may be a scarecrow turned into a living being, but all of the things that make her are natural, so she has a connection to that, hence she grew a giant tree from the earth she's connected to. Scootaloo is a cloud, connected to the sky. To get her Cutie Mark she had to form a connection to the sky, shown in her flying into outer space, the highest one can physically get in the sky.
Sweetie Belle is different though. She's an automaton in the most basic ways. Sure she's magically enhanced so she can grow and naturally heal, but in that sense she's like a cyborg or an android. Also, she's not made from nature at all, except for the magic that acts as her power source. To get her Cutie Mark she had to come to terms with the fact that she is the most artificial of her sisters, and the most powerful. In that sense, she realized that she could potentially kill anyone she wanted, and destroy anything with ease. Once that realization hit, instead of indulging in the full power like Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle had to make the decision to NOT use her full power. Truly deep, and I love these characters.
I get the literal aspect of Sweetie's mark. The note's represent Sweetie and her song, the paw the timberwolves, and the two stars are the other wo crusaders watching her.
I could literally HEAR Sweetie's singing. It soothed my heart even if the singing wasn't real
3529704>>3532413 Thanks!
3529704 Just know it was everything you imagined it should be!
3531257 I can't even imagine this as an actual episode. Then again, I never imagined Avatar steampunk would work until they did it with Legend of Korra.
3538262
3538757 Thanks, glad the words did some justice to the idea then.
3536339 Thank you! I tried really hard to make sure they weren't all just palette swaps. Too many stories with a pair or trio end up where they're just identical, save that one is "ice magic" and one is "fire magic" or something. So even though they have the same origins, the same connections, etc. I wanted each to still be unique, both in their talents, and how they approach the world. Sweetie NOT using her power, after the other two showed how impossibly powerful theirs were just seemed right.
3528551 You made a mythology reference without even trying. How about that?
We shall call her "Sweetie Belle of the wolf paw"!
3538757
To be quite honest with you, I might have teared up a little at that part.
And for a story to do that to me is a feat in of itself. I've read a few emotional fanfics, and they may have struck a chord with me... THIS however, it is something that made me shed a tear legitimately. And to that, I commend the writer for such an amazing story.
Hmmm... Ahem...
Trying to describe color to a blind person is just as hopeless, but words are the bridge between senses. Color can be soft, hot, sad, or aromatic. Words woven together can touch anyone like soft silk. Silken words lift even the heaviest of spirits. When that is achieved, a mastery of words is also acheived.
P.S. You are such a genius with the whole wolf line. What? I don't talk like that.
3549647 Thank you! I'm glad it wasn't just me then. I always feel a bit extra sappy when I'm getting emotional over my own writing (I mean, it's not like I didn't know what was coming,) but I always hope it works for other readers as well.
3589969 That's such an eloquent way to put it, thank you!
This is what I love.
The Wolf, The Bridge, and The Tree: Fenrir, Bifröst and Yggdrasil
Power, Tamed, yet Wild... Space, Vast, Endless, yet Not, and.... Life, the Worlds Gift, and Our Duty to Protect
Damn good show Sir, DAMN GOOD SHOW! Xepher, I salute you Sir.
3593545 You made me cry. Literally. And I don't even know why. It's really hard nowadays to read something as beautiful as this specific chapter. I always liked music itself, though I'm not good at it. And even though I couldn't "hear" the music as some people say they could, I actually could feel it. I could feel the sadness Sweetie and the timberwolves were sharing, I could feel the guilt for doing something wrong even if it was for the best. And I could feel the redemption. When I started to read this fanfic, I have to be honest, I thought it would be "just" another CMC-getting-their-cutie marks. But you turned it into a big stack of feelings, and I can relate with both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle in this story.
Please keep writing.
Oh my god that was so beutiful,i cried. also this is the 1st fanfic ive ever read and its soooooo good any way im kinda new to this but this is so amazing
That... was something. That something was vast, beautiful, magnificent, majestic, brilliant, surprising, eloquent, elegant, clever, and so intricately woven that I don't think i actually saw more than the first layers of any of this excepting maybe, maybe the sound barrier breaking scene with Scootaloo. If you ever need anything ever, I will do all that is within my power to make it so. This has no exaggeration. That was beautiful.
4045134 Heh. Thank you! Knowing the story was a "winner" and really enjoyed by someone is more or less the best an author can ask for though. I'm more than happy just with that!
Gosh, with this one i would have to say...
"Nature's Melody"
Beautiful... the claw had me with the other CMC though, Um Sweetie... no piercings though okay? You're weirding me out and that's hard to do...
"Blue, like my magic!"
"um Sweetie..."
"yes?"
"I have bad news..."
"What?"
"season four..."
"Darnit! I have green magic!"
This is a really awe-inspiring chapter if I do say so myself. Really nice way to end off an epic story, my friend. And now, a song to finish it all up:
4682481 Thanks! Glad you liked it. I have to say, I was never really much into the Sonic games, but that is a nice piece of music you linked.
4675989 It was, of course, meant to weird you out, as it did the other ponies. My prereaders felt the same way about it too, but some part of my brain insisted on it, and even I'm not exactly sure why. And yeah, as for her magic color... well, it was bound to be canon-fodder sooner or later. I mean, it's not like she has a metal paw in the show either.
4692135 Ah, thank you. And now, some EDUCATION!
I noticed you put in the world tree in this story. The tree is a motif present in several mythologies and religions, mostly Indo-European religions. The world tree is represented by a colossal tree, which supports the heavens, thereby connecting the heavens, the world, and the underworld (connected by the roots of tree).
I am SO sorry if I put something so useless on this. My mind got the best of me.
But as an apology, have an approval:
forums.watchuseek.com/attachments/f2/1242079d1381003891-jlc-ebay-bid-walk-away-i-approve-baby-pipe-meme.jpg
EDIT: Dafuq did I just write?
Why can't we have more people like her? I'm not gonna say I act like Sweetie in this chapter, oh no. But just...Why? Why do we insist in violence to solve problems and always jump to conclusions? I'm tired now.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
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Looking at the cover-art again, I wonder if Sweetie Belle will not merely befriend the Timberwolves, but turn them into a howling chorus, since they have been violent long enough, and she doesn't want to see them hurt anyone, just as she doesn't want to hurt anyone herself?
Later that week, Sweetie was wrapping up another lesson with Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus hadn't seemed shocked at all by Sweetie's new paw. In fact, Fluttershy had taken a close interest in it, amazed to see the joints and everything else in action, and even pointing out where several of the middle pieces didn't quite match those of a real canine foot.
-Yeah, I did wonder about that... I mean Fluttershy LIKES canines (and felines, and avians, and arachnids, and...)
"Oh, maybe she's a scurvy sea dog?"
-Wow... give the devils their due, that was actually clever!
Sweetie felt time slow down. Or maybe her thoughts just sped up. She still wasn't sure quite how that ability worked. The result, at least from her perspective, was the same though. She had all the time in the world. The question was, what to do with it.
-Oh dear... she just entered bullet time. Shows how much those words hurt. And yes, that IS the question. Something humilating would be tempting, but it would need to be a VERY good choice in order to end the abuse without leaving her guilty in her own eyes, or, less importantly, the eyes of the adults around her.
For one, she was now possibly the most powerful unicorn
-Well, since Twilight got promoted out of the "unicorn" classification... although I don't know if even she could teleport to Prance with ease.
That'd be messy, though.
-Wow... does she get cold and calculating to the point of psychopathy when she enters "bullet time"?
What she knew about herself was that it wasn't in her to be mean or vindictive.
-So she is like Marco of the Animorphs, whose morality/ethics was something he had to add in after he was done with all his tactical analysis?
What must it be like to live a life where lashing out and mocking others is the only way you've found to interact with other ponies?
-Even the sycophants that were mentioned in an earlier chapter I think? Or am I getting confused between fics?
"I don't know, I think maybe they just need friends."
-Could be a good "baby step" before moving onto ponycidal Everfree monsters.
Later that night, long after the moon had reached its zenith, the Crusaders were awoken by the sounds of howling.
-Looks like it could be a short test-run... wonder if this is out of season (pointing to something going badly ecologically for the Timberwolves, explaining the extra-EXTRA-huge one forming, much the way that wolf-packs will combine into mega-packs when prey is especially scarce?). Small chance that the bullies will get caught on their way over to the tree-house by the pack... also it occurs to me that the CMCs tree is probably bigger than Twilight's Crystal Tree-Palace, although since the house only takes up a few branches, rather than being built into the trunk and/or branches, the square footage of accommodations is probably much smaller.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
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"She" was the pronoun.
-While I understand where she's coming from, I'm a bit too "Twilight" in my personality to believe that "it" has to be an insult when applied to a genderless intelligent being. In other words, your characterization is spot-on, even if I'd disagree with the logic that the character is using as a person.
"I don't think so," she said, retrieving the splinter she'd found in her hoof during the previous sleepover. "They're mourning. I have to let them say goodbye. I have to go apologize."
-Ah, interesting explanation for how she can understand them when presumably even Fluttershy can't. Removes some of the awesome factor for her DECIDING to learn their language, but I supposed you wanted to wrap this up before the other two would have a chance to "change the world", rather than just "show ever sign of being about to change the world really soon"... of course, given that they have been noticed by the leaders of two nations, they already have had a trickle-down effect as adjustments are surely being made in anticipation of the trio's future actions.
as Apple Bloom made for the long staircase behind her.
-Which reminds me... Timberwolves can't climb stairs? Or is the bottom few retractable like a drawbridge, rather than grown out of the tree?
She'd teleported to the lower part of the staircase, rather than all the way down, giving her the chance to survey things and descend the last dozen yards on hoof.
-Appears there is no retractable portion. Perhaps the Timberwolves just don't want to touch the corpse* of the deceased?
*Or in some alternate continuity where Applebloom turned the dead Mega-King (Emperor?) Timberwolf into a cluster of merely-redwood sized trees, would that be "copse"?
She saw three timberwolves a small ways out from the trunk.
-So the cover image is exact in that regard? I did scroll past a cutie-mark on the way here, and this is the second to last chapter, but the precision is still worth remarking on.
remembering the trust her friends put in her nearly every time she came up with some convoluted stunt to earn their marks.
-Not the best example reallly... still they haven't gotten badly hurt... admittedly the cockatrice incident was pretty bad as far as the consequences they narrowly avoided.
Using what she'd learned working with Fluttershy,
-And somehow I THINK I failed to make this connection until now...
She closed her eyes and began to sing.
-Ah, thought that the "howl-along" would come AFTER the initial befriending... this works in its own way.
There were no words—at least none ever known to ponies
-So sorta like whale-song in that there might be words, but she is the first to realize it?
it pulled the splinter from her paw
-Same words as a retelling of Androcles and the Lion would have, but a very very different meaning both in the technical mechanics of the action, and in the emotional context. For one thing the gift is being given in the opposite direction.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
(Left the last edit to my previous comment unposted for about 6 hours, might want to double-check the last few items).
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Then, licking the tears off her cheek, it pulled the guilt from her heart as well.
-Nice parallel, interacts interestingly with my comment about Androcles.
"Actually," she said, looking closer before bursting into laughter. "I think Sweetie is too!"
-Nice touch, especially since it serves to remind those in need of this that these are Ponies, not humans drawn as equines. Especially important in a medium where drawings of the characters are at 1 or 2 for the whole story, rather than 60+ times per second for most of the episode.
Maybe there's a timberwolf version of rabies that makes them big as well, or maybe it got into some poison joke.
-Both interesting thoughts.
Remembering how she'd felt about Winona,
-Two words that came to mind, and brought tears to my mind (look at your own risk) Old Yeller.
Even Diamond Tiara. Even Silver Spoon. Even giant timberwolves tryin' to kill ya! You always assume the best, and because of that, ya end up makin' friends out of yer enemies."
-Ah, so not so much Jane Goodal then probably. Although if she can duplicate the feat with the other animals of the Everfree... or maybe studying just the one species would be sufficient since she would be aiding other ponies in understanding them. But I'm seeing something else as more probable. Marriage counselor perhaps? Mediator between other nations? Somehow I'm not seeing her as a diplomat for Equestria per se. Not advancing the nations interests at least.
The notes in front though, that's the other part of me. That's who I choose to be.
-Important distinction! I like it. I know I have decided to be a logical and creative thinker, bound as little as possible by culture and tradition around me. It isn't easy, but there is no turning back. Sweetie seems like she will have an easy time of remaining true to what she chooses to be. Or maybe not... hard to tell. Of course, hard or easy, she will do it.
With great power, there's a lot of temptation to use it. See, you two both got your cutie marks for using your magic in amazingly powerful ways. I think I got my mark for not using mine. I could have done anything to Diamond and Silver.
-Seems a little sad for Equestria that that much potential is going to remain mostly bottled up, but... well, I suppose globe-hopping teleport range could be good for a mediator hoping from hot-spot to hot-spot... including for getting out of situations where she actually ends up in danger. Of course, she might end up ending some battles the hard way if there is treachery at a negotiating sessions she is involved in... she didn't teleport away and leave her friends to get hurt, even after she was injured herself! I also suspect that her skills will be vital to the sequel.
"You mean the stars on each of our marks are the other two of us?"
-Obvious iconography is obvious.
-Your author's note strikes me as overstating the case, but that may just be because I'm not much of a music buff.
I don't understand how or why this chapter affects my emotions? The effect is unnerving.
I think this is my least favorite chapter. Not because of the quality of the chapter, but because I personally hate wolves, and by proxy Timberwolves. Sweetie's cutie mark is my least favorite of the three because of this. So underwhelming.
And now that the triumvirate is complete, here's to DT and SS never being able to bully the CMC again if they reject the offer of friendship. If they do, one of them can be all "Oh, how did you get your Cutie Mark again? Dressing up in your parent's jewelry, right? Doesn't quite beat piercing the heavens/growing a giant ass tree/refraining from using my power to turn your entire body into its constituent particles". That'll shut 'em up!
Sweetie Belle's tale is a rather saccharine one, with the whole moment of singing to the timberwolves, and now at last the cover art for this story makes sense. Perhaps it's because she was built fully as a clockwork, whereas Apple Bloom was made from more organic materials and Scootaloo not really from anything, though her form was originally sculpted as a cloud, but it makes a nice contrast that Sweetie has to be the most empathetic of the three, the furthest from her original nature. This segues in nicely with having Fluttershy as her mentor for a while as well.
The one thing that I wish you did though, which I mentioned earlier, is make a mention of Rarity and Sweetie Belle's parents. They're shown to be living in Ponyville and make an appearance and several lines in Sisterhooves Social, but we haven't even heard a peep out of them since. Rarity's grandfather was pretty genius though to make a clockwork that could sing a song like Sweetie Belle did, assuming that her singing abilities relies on having gears and other parts to imitate a singing voice just like how the rest of her body relies on a mechanical framework.
I think the Writing about music was the Weakest part of this story so far, and it was STILL excellent. I find myself wishing I could even imagine hearing that song.
I see people saying that this is a bad chapter or underwhelming as the other two, but I believe it's perfect mostly because of how I personalty envisioned how the events leading up to her singing, and how if this was a movie this would be the most beautiful seen and the most heart felt of them all so good job and keep writing like this.
All I could hear was the wolf MIDIs from Twilight Princess. However, my experience of the musical description was more... visual, if that makes sense. Like "seeing" the concepts dancing around each other. But going by several of the comments, I think your next project is to teach an architect the art of interpretive dance.
I understand that, and in the end, I think it did work. Far better than if you had tried to put words to it instead, I think. (Unless you are very talented. I can easily be wrong.)
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Thank you, for this and all the other comments you left as you read! Always loving seeing new people find this story and enjoy it!
This chapter gave me chills and tears in my eyes. It was beautiful!!! I literally got goosebumps! I'm really glad i decided to read this.
Feels>9000! Good Job!
Not many try to see the best in others like Sweetie Belle!
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced someone writing about someone singing a song without some sort of outside reference to an existing song nor something done quite like this. This was really well done and surprised me when I felt a tear escape my eye. Kinda snuck up on me, lol.
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Thanks for the feedback. I'm very glad it worked. Kinda encourages me to someday actually try that whole "dancing about architecture" thing.