The Ballad of Graceful Blossom

by Woomod

Chapter 2 - Canterlot's Betrayel

Author's Note:

Couldn't write for uhhhhh months now I guess Due to a combination of being busy then lazy then busy, then wham a glurge of thousands of words in an hour.

Welp here we go with chapter 2.

I made my way to the usual spot, I’d find the others later, but I was back in Canterlot and I had a promise to keep. A little patch of grass, next to the sewers, with a single tree on it. There we would meet. As I arrived I sat beneath the tree and waited.

I did need to wait long before my nose was assaulted with Lady Char’s scent, and my heart skipped a beat. But that was another life and a long time ago. “My lady, I am glad you were able to find time for me in your busy schedule.”

“Blossom.” Her voice was blunt, harsh and straight forward. “I’ve known you since we were 8, can the politeness. How are you.”

I let out a sigh of relief, from my bottled up weariness. “Worse for the wear, I did just fight a war against a God. I could really use a drink.”

Lady Char tsked in a serious tone at me and gave me a light slap on the nose. “You’re a monk, it’s forbidden. It impedes the horn chakra.”

I laughed and so did she. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s ever really impeded my insight or intuition. So where were we when I went off to war?”

I could hear her hmming for a few minutes before speaking up. “I Believe I was calling you an idiot for going to war and chasing after the tail of the first giant light calling itself a God, especially when you can’t see.” I could feel as Lady Char sat down next to me. “Then you badgered me into getting the Church to support the war effort.”

“Low blow Char. Besides If someone can become a living god it’s our duty, they’ve made great strides in escaping their Dharma.” I stated in a pointed tone.

“Blossom.” Char sighed exasperated. “No pony in recorded history has ever escaped their Dharma. All we can do is help ponies live up to their Dharma’s.”

“The Prophet…” I tried to point out the obvious but was cut off.

“If The Prophet existed, A big if, Then you possibly have one pony to escape Dharma.” A few moments passed as I could hear Lady Char rub her temples. “How can you escape yourself when the Gods tattoo yourself on your plot Blossom?”

“Are you saying you don’t believe Char?” I turned my head to her.

“I believe in the Church, I believe in the good it does in helping ponies find peace in their lives, I believe in the fact running it leaves me overworked.” She chuckled at the joke. “You’ve beaten into my head the belief that normal ponies can make a difference.” Lady char stood up I could hear her well muscled form stretching. “So Circus or sparring match?”

“Circus, I just got back from War.” I stood up. “Besides maybe I can get a drink at the Circus.”

Lady Char laughed. “You know I’ll stop you.”

“But then I might get sober.” I whined in response.

“Good, maybe we’ll actually see how far you can hear with your mind unimpeded then.” We both laughed and started to walk towards the circus.

---

I adjusted the giant stuffed bear on my back that Char had won for me. Who tells two warrior monks that breaking the bottles doesn’t count as knocking them over? No pony that’s who.

Char stopped when we reached the exit. “She has no intention of paying up.”

“What?” I turned my head back to char.

Char spoke slowly and calmly. “Hierarch Spellweaver, she has no intent of paying up. She is going to argue the church already gave sufficiently to make for Canterlot’s contribution.”

I stood there, I had no idea what to do honestly, We needed that money to pay for the soldier’s back pay and the only option we had besides was...Gladius Option, taking in the weight of that I knew I needed another answer. “I see, thank you for the information Char.”

Chat ask quizzically and unsure. “Blossom, what are you going to do?”

I stood up straight and said without hesitation. “What’s right.” I vaulted myself into the sky.

I could hear the army encamped outside the gates, it wasn’t hard. I avoided them, I needed to figure out what to do, to clear my head. I flew around the city at a leisurely pace and yet my contrails still spilled behind me, music and sound coalesced and my thoughts took solid form.

“If you were with me now, I’d find myself anew. If you were with me now, you’d know just what to do.
I want to live my life, the way you said we should. With courage as my light, fighting for what’s right. Like you made me believe I could.
And I will fly upon these wings, to places I have never been, there is so much yet to be.
And I can feel, your heartbeat still.
And I Will do these great things, upon these wings.

This World I’ll never see,
My just dreams that just won’t be,

But I fly upon these wings, to places I have never been, there is so much yet to be.
And I can feel, your heartbeat still.
And I Will do these great things, upon these wings.

Someday with your spirit beside me, and your words to guide me,
I will be freeeeeeeeee.”

---

I landed with the army, Celestia’s flames and Gladius ticking made it easy to find them. “Did your discussion with lady char not go so well Blossom?” said Celestia’s voice a tinge of worry piercing it.

“Are private thoughts not private now?” I asked somewhat defentively.

“Not when you start singing over the entire city. No.” Gladius replied it wasn’t mocking, just matter of factly.

I groaned inwardly, I had lost control of my music while flying. “Hierarch Spellweaver has no intention of paying what she promised, she is going to claim that since the church has already lent heavy support to the cause she doesn’t need to pay up.”

“Well that would explain her choice of venues for negotiations.” Celestia said barely contained rage in her voice. “Blossom to get you up to speed, we have been so thoughtfully invited to an underground bar for the discussions.”

“I wouldn’t think Spellweaver would dein…” I started to speak up.

“Literally underground.” Celestia corrected. “It’s run by an Earth Dragon named gretel, and frequented by both the worst of the worst, and the best of the best trying to slum it. However we have several hours until the appointed time, It seems Spellweaver is intent on belittling us before telling us no.”

“I would like to echo my earlier advice.” Gladius stated. “We have an army which far outstrips the Canterlot guard. Our other allies will either understand or be cowed and intimidated by the show of force.”

“Gladius I appreciate the straightforwardness of your plan, I believe we are tired of war.” Celestia stated in a diplomatic tone.

Gladius retorted in a calm serious tone. “I’m not, I enjoy your company, I consider you my friends, I would not be remiss for one more battle before being shut down.”

“Gladius!” I shouted indignantly. “There has been enough death and suffering, besides I swear to you I won’t let you end up just wasting away in a museum just because the war is over.” I could hear Gladius rubbing his polished steel jaw as I spoke.

I heard the flapping of tiny wings, as an excitable little bundle of energy forced it’s way into the strategy tent. “It’s lesson time.” It stated empathically and with a tone of seriousness as it landed softly on the table.

“Yes, It Is I suppose.” I heard celestia say, though she tried to keep her tone neutral I could hear the relief in her voice. I don’t know if it was relief from the tension or from getting to spend time with eros. Eros truly could truly get to her, I don’t think she ever thought the child would so endear itself to her, but it did.

I sat to the side as they began the lesson, The contents did not matter, figures, formulas and theories that meant nothing to me. But I listened intently anyways, It was a joy to see Celestia so relaxed for once, though not tranquil I didn’t think I could be tranquil around that bundle of energy, I realized I needed to spend more time with the child as I had neglected it recently, but now was not the time.

I got up and tried to leave, to cease my intrusion into their moment. “Aunt Blossom?” Eros responded quizzically and I turned to face the direction the child was speaking from. “Why are you leaving.”

“I just felt it best not to intrude on your time with Celestia.” I replied plainly.

Celestia said nothing, Eros after a moment spoke up again. “Oh...Ok. Um, you’ll have fun won’t you?”

I Smiled and nodded my head. “Of course, I’ll be fine.”

“OK!” Eros voice beamed. I took that as my moment to get out of there and leave.

I walked under a nearby tree and meditated, soon it would be time to deal with Spellweaver. Celestia may need rest and relaxation to prepare herself, but I needed to prepare myself for what could be, it was her place to lead, and mine to act. If it came to what Gladius suggested...I shuddered, Canterlot had been the center of pony culture for centuries could we really Invade It? What would our troops think of invading it? The Griffons would speak nothing, they served their own gods or were Celestia’s most fanatic followers. Earthponies were farms and Pegasi warriors by tradition would be loyal to the cause, or to coin, or to Celestia. But the Unicorns, and The Church soldiers, our magical support and our most skilled troops respectively, they could turn on us from the inside.

My thoughts were interrupted by an unnoticed unguided love missile, and tiny wings and hooves embraced me. “Aunt Blossom!”

“Little one, what are you doing here, it is time for your lesson.” I said shocked as the wind had been knocked out of me.

“Well, We got to politics lessons, and Celestia told me what was going on, then asked me.” Eros began in a most excited tone before switching to a more serious one. “Eros if you were in my place what would you do.” Then without missing a beat Eros switched instantly back to it’s normal rapid speech pattern. “And I said how i’d shore up morale in preparation for the worst so it wouldn’t look like I was doing it prematurely before we knew what was happening, just look like I was being a concerned leader. Then Celestia said that was a good plan and for a test I should do that in small scale, then I remembered how you left and figured you had morale problems and I could help with those. So completely unrelated to my test, How is your morale?”

I giggled for a moment, I reached out and touched Eros smiling face affectionately before responding. “Not well, I worry about what may indeed be inevitable, and how we could be forced to do that. The full weight of that weighs heavy on my soul.”

Eros ears perked up and the child asked. “Why does this weigh so much heavier on you than the campaign against Luna and her followers?”

I sighed wondering how much philosophy the child’s mind had really been filled with in those lessons with Celestia and if it could absorb what I was saying. “Luna and her followers were tainted by the power of darkness, she needed to be stopped to maintain cosmic balance. It was a holy act sanctioned by the church. But this is a secular war for secular reasons, and there are those in the Church who are likely to claim their side is defending the Faith…” I braced myself for what Eros would realize.

Eros listened intently and responded. “Would you be expected to defend the Faith if they did so?”

“Yes Child.” I nodded slowly and sadly.

Eros humphed. “Well it’s like you told Gladius, Don’t fight for someone, fight for something.”

I shook my head. “Eros, I didn’t tell Gladius that.”

The little one pulled his head back. “You didn’t?” The child quizzed me. “But I could have sworn you had to be the one who told him that. Well It Sounds like something you’d say, so still you should take his advice and fight for something and not just the Church.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Or Celestia?”

I could hear Eros rubbing their chin for a few moments then the sound of slow nodding. “Well I guess it would follow you don’t just go to war for Celestia either.”

I smiled, and patted the child on the head. “Thank you child, you’ve done a good child. Tell Celestia you passed your test.”

“OK!” The child chirped happily before running off to it’s Mother.

I regathered myself in my meditations, wiping away my worries. I would do what needed to be done, No matter what happened, I would not betray myself. That truth echoed through me, I would be myself. What has to be can not be changed.

---

We went down beneath the walls, it was lower than the slums, it was a place for those cast out. The tunnels stench filled the air. We walked the four of us into the tavern. I could hear from the hoof stomps a pony getting a drink.

“She Isn’t here, she means to insult us.” Eros noted.

“Possibly, but we are early it is not yet time to judge.” I chided the child slightly before moving to the bar. “So how much for a drink?” I needed a drink so bad, I was hearing too much.

A neck craned down to me. “2 bits.” A huge imposing voice intoned, in it the earth rumbled. I could hear the energy flowing through the dragon, her root was huge, but bloated and fat not healthy, she was greedy.

“How much for a bracelet.” I intoned.

“30 bits. And How do you know about that, might I ask?” The dragon’s rumbling voice inquired.

I smiled. “All the ponies that sound comfortable here have braclets, and they don’t pay you for their drinks.”

“Ha, you got me.” The dragon intoned in good humor as it nodded. “I don’t think you are a regular, so you think you can drink 15 drinks in one sitting?”

“I haven’t had a drink in all day, pretty sure.” I chuckled.

“Well lemme get you two then, Any preferences?” The rumbling voice inquired.

“Strong.” I replied as a herd of ponies began to come down the corridor, armed and armored over 20, in addition an unarmed pony in robes. It must have been Hierarch Spellweaver, heart was malnourished and yet encased around it was something like a huge overripe fruit, her throat was powerful and unhealthy much as Gretel's Root. I instinctively squished my muzzle a demagogue, not a true believer, she had never even opened her heart much less her higher Chakras. I downed the two drinks, I didn’t need to hear these this. “More please.”

Gretel obliged as I took two drinks and sat down at the negotiating table. “See, no insult she’s right on time.”

Spellweaver responded, there was a practiced honey to her words and yet i could hear inside her the honey being made and the venom inside that honey...I needed more booze. “Thank you Graceful Blossom, I have no interest in making this harder than it needs to be.”

Celestia spoke calmly and imperiously. “Then you will have no problem handing over the money that Canterlot owes me, and I can send my troops home.”

“Except we owe you no money, Canterlot has been run by the church for the past two centuries and the Church has given you more than enough Money. Furthermore even If I wanted to I simply don’t have the funds to pay what you seem to think I owe.” Spellweaver replied her tone maintaining the honey from before but more venom hidden beneath the surface.

I could feel Celestia’s anger burning before she had time to react. “Celestia, calm down, we are negotiating. Please Calm.”

“I will NOT calm down Blossom!” The room flared with the heat of Celestia’s temper. “My men bled so that this precious city would be safe and it cannot pay its debts?!”

“We are aware Lady Celestia, and we owe you a great deal of gratitude for your actions. But not coin.” Spellweaver continued to try and sound reasonable as Celestia’s temper flared further.

“Then YOU go and tell my men that they won’t be paid.” Celestia roared, her anger was making the room swelteringly hot,

“I will do no such thing, you are the one who failed them.” The venom and intent was clear, Spellweaver would not budge which meant there was only one recourse Celestia would have to resort to.

“So, It shall be war then.” Gladius stated bluntly.

“Do not speak unless you are spoken to tool.” She showed not even contempt for Gladius when speaking.
“Is in my circle, and he speaks my mind on the matter.” Celestia intoned her anger now quieter but burning even more fiercely.

“War? With Canterlot? With the Church? Your armies would turn on you, Your precious Graceful Blossom and this weapon belong to the Church. What will your other allies say when they find out you turned on us?” Spellweaver balked dumbfounded, had she not even considered that we would invade canterlot had she been so arrogant as to assume we would back down when not payed?

“Yes, War.” The decision ripped through Celestia’s heart, and the stab in hers tore through mine, I needed a bucking drink. “They will think you are traitors who didn’t pay up, maybe they will think I deserve a crown since I am a Goddess and I Did lead an Army to save the world.”

“So be it curs.” Outright contempt now erupted from Spellweaver’s mouth. “Graceful Blossom, go retrieve the temple knights. As for this weapon it has forgotten it’s Place clearly.”

Spellweaver began to chant a spell. I knew Celestia was readying to attack, I knew she would know what kind of spell this was. I held out my hoof calmly and gave a knowing nod as I heard weapons being drawn.

As the binding spell finished there was a popping and then a fizzling sound. “Did you not remember who I am? Or Perhaps did you merely not believe?” Gladius normal stoic tone had become mocking. “I AM GLADIUS, THE UNCHAINED! MY SOUL IS MY OWN!” He roared defiantly.