My Little Pony: the Harmony of Friendship

by Godzilla313

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

After assessing the situation, Celestia and Luna knew it was going to take a long time to undo the damage Ponaeros caused and to restore both the cities and the ponies back to normalcy after Ponaeros’ spell was stopped. There was much in damage that had to be fixed, and repairs made. However, more immediate of issue was a time of mourning for the lost, interment of the war dead, and reflection of how never to let this kind of evil set in again. Indeed, had it been anypony else, Discord would have put a stop to it from the start. However, as Discord so aptly explained, there was no way to really make an adequate stop of things until some things ran their courses. The only regret, and even from Discord, was that the learning curve for such vigilance would be so large. Sometimes, evil is not so easy to see, or easy to stop once seen. The only comfort that could be taken was that he was gone forever, and that he was stopped before it got even worse. Nonetheless, there were two that were very depressed about the whole thing.

It was a day after it was over, and the whole of Twilight’s circle of friends, which included the twins, were permitted to stay in the castle at Canterlot as they were to be guests at the memorial that was to be established at the resting place for all military heroes. It was to be dedicated to all the brave that fought and gave their lives to stop this evil from all the lands who came to Equestria’s aid, as well as those from Equestria, and a reminder of what the face of wickedness looks like. Yet, as the days passed heading for that moment, the twins were not very social, and had not played a note of music. Considering how ingrained in them music was, this was very disturbing. They chose to eat in their room, and ate very little. Eventually, Twilight was going to say something, but Luna said, “Please, princess Twilight, permit me an opportunity to speak with them. I think I know what is going on, and I believe that I can do something for them.”
Twilight nodded and watched Luna go to visit the twins, and she hoped she could find out what was going on, and that she could help.

Luna knocked, but there was no answer, even though she knew they were in there. She sighed and quietly opened the door. “Greetings, friends,” she said, “May I come in?”
“Your castle,” said Quill, and though it was very disrespectful, considering who this was, she let it pass considering how they felt, having an idea what the issue was. She sighed again, and she said, “Dining on ashes does not taste very good, and it is not very nourishing.”
They looked at her oddly, wondering what that was supposed to mean, and Downy guessed she knew what the problem was by answering, “We did something very bad.”
“In legal terms,” answered Luna, “What you did would have been considered justifiable homicide, considering what he was doing to you, and what he would have once your usefulness to him faded away, as well as being done in defense of everypony concerned.”
They both started to shed tears now, both heartbroken that, as far as they were concerned, by their hoofs, another life was ended. This was the worst thing that could happen to them as they saw it. Luna then came up to them and gathered them under her wings as a mother hen and said, “I do know what it is like to live with regret.”
“You never killed anypony,” muttered Quill softly and through sobs.
“No, you are right,” she said, “But, does what you did equate to trying to kill your own sister and usurp the throne for yourself?”
Though still sobbing, they looked up at her matronly smile and Downy said, “You…you tried something like that?”
She nodded and said, “It is interesting that you did not learn that in your classes about Equestrian history when you first came here.”
“Something was taught,” said Quill, “But there was so much to learn, we actually didn’t put much thought to it, considering who you are now.”
“It would be an understatement to say it was not one of my proudest moments,” she answered, “Yet, to refresh your memories, yes, I did try this, though a long, long time ago. I paid a dear price for this, but because of the help of some of your friends, I was redeemed. My sister would have sought for my redemption in any regard because my time of penance was done, and she is quite forgiving. Even though I was still in a bad way when I returned, it was that same Tree of Harmony, and the elements it possesses that did what was needed to help me. It was that same tree that helped you…well, really, all of us. In my case, it knew I could be redeemed.”
They thought about it for a few moments, and Downy then asked, “Are you saying that all of that was being driven by the Tree of Harmony you speak of?”
“The spell you tried to write, and the others finished, was in perfect sync with the Tree,” she answered, “And considering what was happening right then, Ponaeros put together many wicked spells to make himself what he was, and tried to combine your magic with it. Instantly, he removed whatever qualities in him that could have been redeemed. What I am saying is he became an abomination. There was no way that nature itself could have tolerated his continued existence, and apparently the Tree detected this in your spell and in his last act, and acted accordingly.”
“But, it was a life,” protested Quill, “All life is precious, no matter how bad they might be.”
Luna shook her head and said, “My poor dear: you have to understand that, sometimes, there is a line one can cross—a point of no return, if you will—where you sear your conscience shut to the point where no reason or working in him or her towards redemption could ever take place. This is called the state of reprobation. Once that state is hit, there is nothing anypony can do. He was too far gone. If you had not, somepony would have. I know killing is abhorrent to you two, but you must understand that, if this had not been done, that ‘precious life’ you refer to would have destroyed everything in his path. He thought himself a god, but like any delusional soul, once he thought this, instead of reshaping existence as he knew it, he would have actually brought its demise. The Created can never become the Creator.”
This, they could not argue. She was right. Whatever the case, he would have brought his own demise, but would have dragged everypony with him. Downy then said, “It still doesn’t take away the sting.”
Luna smiled very matronly again and said, “And it never should go away. The taking of another life should always hold great weight for anypony involved. It should never become something that you lose feeling for, or else you would become something less than the sentient creatures you are. And I do hope you two never have to be put into this situation ever again. Besides, even though it came to what it was, your magic faced the ultimate test and came out on top, and you proved that it indeed can stop conflicts before they can start for much lesser foes. You can never stop all fighting; this is impossible. As long as ponies, or any other sentient creatures, have free will, somepony will always try, but, the bards now can be there to stop him before he does any harm. You two are going to forever be heroes. Never be ashamed of that.”
They were still sobbing, but smiling now, and embraced her warmly. It was the shot in the foreleg they needed. She then said, “You know, what might help in the memorial is if you two speak your thoughts on war and perform something to honor the fallen. I think the families of the fallen would appreciate it.”
They smiled broader now, and suddenly, their minds turned to some pretty patriotic music they could do that would honor the fallen, but also appeal for all ponies to always seek peace when they can. Thus, when they emerged and started to interact, everypony was relieved. When they heard the plans, they became excited, and now wanted to do all that they could to help.

The day soon approached for the memorial, and everypony was there in their finest. Even the twins got into some nice clothing, though, for them, it felt uncomfortable, and it was clear to all that this was so as the pulled at this and fussed with that. Nonetheless, the military was in their finest uniforms, and Rainbow Dash took her place with the Wonderbolts, now with her shiny new medals, her combat patch, and a new sense of what it meant to be a part of a “band of brothers.” For her, she did not just wear them for her victory, but also for those who did not live to see this honor. She would live her life that many more times vehemently for the Wonderbolts that would never come home. Once everypony was in place, the ceremony commenced.

Celestia came up and was the first to speak, officially opening the event by stating, “Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome to the dedication and memorial for the fallen of the Second Great Equestria War. This is not meant just to honor the fallen of our own nation, but of every nation that contributed souls and resources to end the evil that sought to destroy all that we hold dear. Without their help and sacrifice, we could not have survived to see the final day of victory. They are to be honored here as well as our own. In all that we went through, we learned just how much that a desire for peace and working towards it can be just as effective as military effort and struggle. There were those who sacrificed who bore not weapons but olive branches who also paid the ultimate price, and they also must be honored. None must ever be forgotten. With that, I would like to bring out two who have something to add to this, and I would ask you listen closely to what they have to say.”
With that, she yielded the stage to the Feathers, who then came up, and were met with thunderous cheers and applause. Yet, this was not the fan freak outs they would have known in concerts, but more of a cheer of adoration and respect. They were key in putting an end to this horrible war as far as they watching were concerned, and they wanted to express their gratitude. It was a few minutes before things started to calm a bit, and that is when Quill raised a hoof and calmed down the crowd. With that, they began to speak.

Quill started and said, “My sister and I thank you for your show of gratitude from the bottom of our hearts, and it helps us heal some as well.”
Once again, the crowd there showed the same response, and it was another few minutes before they calmed again so they could speak. Downy then said, “When we say, ‘heal’, what we mean is, in the process of stopping Ponaeros, our actions led to us doing something we never would have wanted to do ourselves. For us, killing is abhorrent, and it would never be our first choice. This is not to say we do not think that the military was evil for what they did, for if they had not acted, all would have been lost. We have learned that nopony can ever entirely stop war; it is impossible.”
Quill spoke up and then said, “Nonetheless, it is our hope that what happened and this memorial shall always remind us of the grim cost of war and how we should always do what we can to make sure we try to stop them before they ever get a chance to start. We now realize that peace is not the lack of conflict, but having and being able to exercise the strength to show that starting one with us would be a grave mistake, and that all should seek for peaceful resolutions first before pride overtakes us and causes things that we have seen.”
Downy took over and then said, “We now take the time to sing, not do shame and protest those that fought, but in dedication to all those who have given their lives, and have given their lives, to make Equestria, and even the world, free and equal.”
With that, they prepared to play. They had considered “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” but balked, thinking it would be taken by some to be questioning why they even fought at all. Instead, they kept it patriotic, and started with a song called, “Equestrian Tune”, and it spoke of seeing the common everyday struggles of many to make it in this world, but despite all that, there is still a dream of a nation that everypony has in Equestria that can keep us moving forward every day. They then moved onto “Blowin’ in the Wind” and then into a song that one in the human world would recognize as “Ballad of the Green Berets,” and was reworked by the twins and called “The Ballad of the Wonderbolts.” They then went into “Equestrian Trilogy”, which soared above everything and gained great applause. In all this, the twins were using their magic and truly setting the mood for all involved. They decided to finish a bit more upbeat and did the Equestria version of “This Land is Your Land.” After great applause, they yielded the stage to players from the lands that aided them to do their own tributes, (some of them bards as well,) and then it came time for the memorial proper.

An honor guard of the E.U.P. Defense Force and all its branches came up in a “stately time” cadence to a slow rolling snare drum. It was a silent and stately honor guard that took their position, along with seven artillery teams. Luna then took the podium and asked for all to bow their heads for a three minutes of silence for the fallen. Once this was done, she floated up a piece of paper and read the following:

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted.
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning;
We will remember them. (Poem is public domain.)

This was then followed by a 21-gun salute by the artillery that had been brought. This was done, not seven at a time, but one cannon at a time. Once this was done. this was followed by a lone bugler who then played something called “the Tattoo” that is normally played at lights out. It was, in centuries passed, a tune that was played to call troops back to the barracks for lights out, and to be heard in town to call them back before the gates closed. In this case, it was call them home for the very last time. Once the last notes were played, a squad of the five most senior Wonderbolts could be heard approaching in a fly-by, but as they were going overhead, one slowly peeled away in what was called the “missing pony” formation in honor of the fallen. Once done, the twins came out to play once last time and finished with “If I Had a Hammer.” This was greeted by applause, as it was understood that they sang this in honor to the fallen directly. The proceedings were then brought to a close, and everyone broke up. Yet, the twins lingered a bit, pondering all they had gone through, and decided that, instead of meeting with the press and the social class of the land, they just slipped out. In fact, they were looked for, and everypony did indeed wonder what happened to them. Yet, the mane 6 and the princesses figured they had a good guess as to what had happened.

After spending some time at the reception, they went to Sweet Apple Acres, and sure enough, they were in their house. After being welcomed in and made comfortable, Twilight had to ask the obvious. “Well, why did you all leave?”
After they glanced at one another, Quill finally said, “I think we said what was needed. We did not wish to belabor things.”
“Besides,” said Downy, “Things like that are just not our style. We just wanted to go home and think about things.”
“Like what?” asked Celestia.
“Like, where do we go from here?” asked Quill.
“Like everypony else,” said Applejack, “Take one day at a time, an’ let t’marrow take care of itself. Can’t worry ‘bout that. Each day gots its own problems.”
“And, besides,” said Twilight, “With all that has happened, many bards will be looking to join in now, or there will be those not sure and seeking to know if they are. They need you, and you’ve set the example now. With more bards, your dream of a more peaceful world can come true, that is, unless you two were looking to go back.”
The two looked at each other, and then smiled and began to laugh heartily. “No way!” they both said, “This is now our home, and you know, thank you,” continued Downy, “In fact, we still were not sure about everything, and were just contemplating leaving and fading into the background somewhere and starting over, but that’s silly talk, and selfish. You just showed us we have far more than we realize, and the best way to overcome the past is to dive into the future that was meant for us.”
Pinkie suddenly had the urge to have a party, but considering the seriousness of the day at hand, she hesitated in getting all excited and instead just came back with cake and coffee for everypony. She served the mugs and said, “Well this at least calls for a toast.”
“To what shall we toast?” asked Rarity.
After a moment, Quill then said, “To a future of peace and love, as much as we can make!”
With that, they all made the peace sign, saying, “Peace,” and then raised their mugs to a future they all had that stretched beyond the stars in the sky.

THE END