Sunbeams and Chocolate Milk

by Turtwig-Tales

Heartache

The chasm wasn’t hard to find. It wasn’t far from their castle, and it was rather large. Any who knew the area like they did would have been able to find it with ease within a few minutes’ walk.

Before leaving, the pair had taken the time to find some saddlebags in a storage room, gathered a small amount of supplies, and set off. Neither Luna nor Celestia knew for sure what was in this chasm, so it would be best to be prepared, just in case.

Neither sister had said much on the way, opting instead to walk in silence. What more could be said at this point? Both knew what they had to do, and the risks involved in doing so. They had quickly found the gorge, its dark, foreboding presence stretched out as far as they could see, daring them to test its dominion.

The sisters paused at the edge of the dark abyss. They could feel the magic here, dispelling any light that might attempt to penetrate the chasm below. They looked at one another. With a solemn, wordless agreement, they spread their wings and descended into the darkness below. Because they didn’t know what could be down there, they decided to gently float down, instead of descending more quickly.

They knew that they were disobeying one of their parents’ wishes, and they knew that they would soon be disobeying more. Despite the fact that they had their permission to do this -in a way- it still felt...wrong. After so many years of following these rules, suddenly needing to break them was daunting.

As they floated slowly down, the prevailing darkness enveloped them, which was concerning. How would they find the Tree if they couldn’t even see their own hoof in front of their face?

To their surprise, as they neared the bottom, the darkness receded like a fog lifting in the morning. Although it was still dark, they could at least somewhat see. In fact, they could see a faint light shimmering in a grotto nearby. They knew what was there.

And they knew there was powerful magic at work here.

The alicorns were drawn to it, as if being beckoned by whatever lay ahead. As if something had been…waiting for them, and was excited that they were finally here.

It did not feel malicious, however. It felt…peaceful, welcoming even. As they breathed the cool, crisp air they felt more and more alive.
As they approached, the glow lead to a wondrous sight. An enormous tree, made entirely of crystal. Gems hung from the branches like leaves, with links of crystal hanging like ivy. The whole tree pulsated with light like a heartbeat, like it was alive.

Animals could be seen around the base of the tree, some scurrying about, and a few lounging on rocks or amongst the branches. Predators and prey alike, coexisting here, completely unaware of the life-or-death struggle that they would normally be a part of. A mutual, unspoken agreement of peace seemed to exist here.

The two sisters examined the tree more closely. About halfway up the trunk, two symbols could be seen, as if someone had carved them there: a sun and a moon. If there had been any doubt about what this tree was, the presence of their cutie marks removed them.

Luna gasped.

“The Tree of Harmony…” she whispered.

Celestia said nothing and flew up to the point where all the branches met, and ignited her horn. The center, which resembled a six-pointed star, gleamed at their approach, as if the Tree had recognized them. The pulsations quickened, and animals began to chitter and chirp in excitement, raising a grand, primal chorus that sounded…joyful.

It almost felt like the Tree was greeting them.

Luna felt a twinge of doubt. She had believed Celestia when she said she had been freed from Discord’s influence, but what if that had been a part of his plan? What if he knew about the Elements, the Tree, and had sent her own sister to destroy them? She had to make certain.

“Are you sure?” she asked, spreading her wings to join her sister in the air.

Celestia seemed to understand why she had asked.

“We have managed to discover the means by which we can defeat Discord, and free the citizens of Equestria.” She looked to the Tree, and used her magic to pluck the five colored gems from the branches like ripened fruit. They had an array of colors, of pink, light blue, a deep violet, crimson, and a yellowish orange. “Even without these Elements, the Tree of Harmony will possess a powerful magic.”

The animals fell silent, bearing witness to the events before them.

After the first five had been retrieved, the center of the tree opened, revealing another Element of the same pointed-star shape, and with a bright lavender hue. The animals scattered into the underbrush, startled at the sudden, unexpected change to the Tree. The pulses slowed, back to the way it had been when they had first arrived.

With all six Elements together, their collective magic resonated with one another with a quiet, high-pitched hum. They freed themselves from Celestia’s magic. They began to lazily circle the alicorns in the air.

Celestia smiled.

“As long as that magic remains, it will continue to control and contain all that grows here.”

Luna cocked her head and looked at her sister with confusion.

“Alright, you convinced me. But did you really need to go into the full explanation? I believe we both know what is happening.”

Celestia blinked, shook her head, and sighed.

“I am rather tired of being influenced in this manner.”

“What do you mean?”

“I believe the Tree wanted me to fully explain. I felt as if I was being watched, and the feeling stopped once I finished.”

“But why would it do that?” Luna said, glancing back to the Tree. It simply continued its glow, revealing nothing.

“I am not sure. But I do not think it was of malicious intent. Perhaps this place shall be needed again one day.” Celestia replied, floating back down to the ground.

“Hm. Perhaps.” Luna murmured, joining her sister.

“Whatever the reason, I does not matter now. We have what we need. The time has come.”

---

The landscape was worse than Celestia had remembered. Which may have been in part of Discord’s spell on her, but the damage had definitely worsened. As if to drive home this point, several schools of fish swam by in the air, weaving in and out of the trees, shrubbery and even houses floating lazily above.

Feelings of foreboding filled the two brave enough to venture forth through this nonsense. As they walked, they walk occasionally see a faint flicker of movement just outside of their vision. Likely the local townsfolk, doing their best to hide from a world gone mad. As soon as they appeared, they were gone. They weren’t likely to trust anyone or anything so long as Discord was around. All the more reason to end this.

The sun and moon had ceased their battle long ago, and now drifted aimlessly in the discolored sky, seemingly exhausted. Every few minutes or so, one would try to bump into the other, but usually gave up halfway. The stars were scattered about, some faded, others flickering, and others still were shattered into stardust. Luna paused, staring mournfully the sight. Celestia placed a reassuring hoof on her little sister’s shoulder. Luna tore her gaze away from the sky, and nodded her thanks.

They pressed on.

Ahead on a checker-boarded hill, a throne stood as a dark contrast to the purple sky. As the two alicorn sisters approached, an ominous cackle reverberated through the air, shaking reality like a cloth in the wind. With this laugh came a snap that seemed to echo throughout all of existence, and a few more cottages ripped themselves from the earth, rising up to join the others above. The two sisters did their best to ignore the terrified screams of those trapped within. They couldn’t help them, not now.

The throne (which appeared to be made of cardboard) spun around, revealing the monster behind it all, who seemed to be enjoying himself. He grinned at the two alicorns. The same, creepy grin that he flashed every time he was about to do something terrible.

And I thought that was charming? Celestia thought, disgusted with herself.

“Oho, this is so much fun! How about a game of ‘Pin the Tail on the Pony?” he laughed, holding up…what appeared to be Celestia’s tail…? Upon checking, she gasped at the fact that her tail had indeed vanished. However her surprise only lasted a moment. She composed herself, but was still wary. Both she and Luna knew that he was toying with them, like a cat that had caught a mouse out of its hole.

“Playtime is over for you, Discord!” she stated firmly as she and Luna stepped forward, nodding in agreement.

Discord did not seem impressed, let alone intimidated. Which, if Celestia was honest with herself, she was slightly disheartened. Despite the Elements, they would need every edge they could get. If Discord was confident, that was a bad sign.
He had produced a bag of…she couldn’t really tell what the contents were, black seeds-like objects of some sort, but since he was devouring them like a delicious treat (and scattering them randomly about as he did so) it didn’t seem important. Although, since it was Discord, it could have been anything.

“Oh, I doubt that.” He said in a bored tone. He tossed another seed from his bag into his grinning maw, and visibly shuddered in pleasure. He offered the bag to the two standing before him, sending several of the contents tumbling towards them.

“Hungry?”

Luna and Celestia stood resolute and unwavering, ignoring the few pellets that bounced off of their faces. They had their mission, and no snack was going to stop them. They were probably poisonous anyway.

“Suit yourselves.” he said, and resumed his snack. He seemed to forget that the two mares were even there.

Celestia said nothing. She had nothing to say to this beast that had manipulated and used her, and turned her against her own sister. Instead, she lit her horn, opening the saddlebag that she was carrying. From within, she withdrew three of the Elements. These three- the purple, the pink, and the six-pointed violet- had seemed to resonate with her, with her very being. Luna followed suit, revealing the crimson, orange, and light blue Elements that had responded to her.

This caught Discord’s attention.

“Ooo! What have you got there?” he asked, leaning forward and dropping his bag as he brought a talon to his chin, like a newborn foal that just seen their parents keys, or something equally shiny.

“The Elements of Harmony.” Celestia stated firmly, with only a hint of smugness. As she said this, the Elements began to circle her and Luna. It was all she could do not to smirk. She was going to enjoy this.

“With them we will defeat you!” Luna added defiantly, as the Elements spun faster, and a barrier formed around the two sisters. As their bubble grew, they noticed that the ground beneath them had returned to normal, with green grass swaying in the wind created by the Elements. The tense atmosphere ebbed away, and was replaced by a calm, soothing one. Magic surged through their veins, filling them with power they had never felt before.

Discord doubled over in laughter, and sprawled over on his throne. Did he take nothing seriously?

“You should see yourselves right now! The expressions on your face, so intense, so sure of yourselves!” he manages between gasps.

As he laughed the sisters brought the tips of their horns together, unifying the magic that was flowing through them. From this unity, a great rainbow sprung forth, arcing high into the air, and heading straight for the laughing form on the hill.

A knot formed in her stomach. Was this even going to work? What was supposed to happen, anyway? Thus far, she and Luna had done what felt right, but now, it was out of their hooves. The spell had been cast, and all they could do now was wait and see if it worked. For a moment, the wind flowing around her felt more like claws of doubt grabbing at her, trying to tear her from where she stood.

Time seemed to slow.

Celestia glanced around, doing her best not to separate her horn from Luna’s.

She looked to the houses, and saw a few of the braver ponies peeking out at the scene with wide, awestruck eyes. This was a story that they will tell their grandfoals about. Or anyone that would listen, for that matter. Although, the number that would actually believe them was another matter entirely. If any of them survived this, that is.

She looked at Luna, who didn’t seem to share this experience with her. Her mane flowed in slow motion in the wind. Her face was firm, yet slightly strained. She was never as good with direct magic as Celestia, so this must be difficult for her to maintain this. Celestia tried to bolster her own magic, to at least try to ease the burden on her sister. However with everything being in slow motion, it was difficult to tell if it helped any.

Finally, she looked at Discord. When she did, she thought she was seeing double. She saw one Discord, laughing on his throne, but at the same time saw another Discord. The longer she looked at him, the more everything except him and herself seemed to fade. This second Discord was smaller, and was sitting on the throne, and looked rather uncomfortable being there. He also looked lonely, with the throne he himself had made loomed over him. He reminded her of when they first met, on that lonely hilltop near the forest. A kindred spirit, sad and alone. Friendless.

The other, larger Discord simply kept on laughing, completely unaware that the smaller one existed.

Celestia felt a twinge of guilt, and a wetness on her cheek. The sparkling tears were whipped into the air, and complemented the bright, shining colors of the rainbow.

Time sped up again.

As the rainbow careened toward its target, the world itself seemed to shake, as if readying itself for the massive blow it was about to endure.

Discord still didn’t seem to notice the imminent attack. If he did, he didn’t care. He just…kept on laughing. That twisted, insane laugh of a being who didn’t care if the world around him burned, so long as he got a laugh out of it. And he was certainly getting one now.

“Hilarious! Ahaha-ack!” he laugh was cut short as rainbow struck him, instantly turning his flesh stone with a sickening crackle.

There was a bright flash of light, forcing the two alicorns to shield their eyes. There was a thunderous crash, and then…

Silence.

Celestia and Luna opened their eyes, looked around. Everything seemed…normal. It seemed as if every trace of Discord’s influence had been removed entirely. Green grass, blue sky, normal gravity. The sun in its place in the sky with exhausted pride, and the moon resting peacefully below the horizon. A flock of birds chirped as they flew past. Houses stood where they had before, firmly planted in place.
It was as if nothing had even happened. To an outside observer, there was nothing to show that anything out of the ordinary had happened at all.

Except for one thing.

A statue, resting at the crest of the hill, peaceful and unmoving. It depicted a strange creature made from parts of many beasts and monsters, frozen in an eternal laugh. If one didn’t know better, they might have thought that it had been carved that way, made from a single piece of stone. They would have never guessed the madness this ‘statue’ had caused.

Celestia felt herself moving toward the statue that had once been Discord, her legs moving on their own, and her wings frozen at her sides. Out of the corner her vision, she saw Luna begin to move to stop her, but let her continue. Celestia was glad that her sister had. She needed to do this.

Upon reaching the top of the hill, Celestia kicked away a few smoldering pieces of cardboard, and then paused, staring at the statue’s merry expression. After a moment she pressed a hoof to its chest. It was already cold, like it had never been alive at all. She was surprised at the emotions that filled her. Sadness. Guilt. Regret. None of them fit what one who had defeated such an evil should be feeling.

Why was she being so sentimental about this monster? He had twisted her mind, made her into his puppet, a mockery of the mare she once was, turned her against her own sister, and tormented innocent ponies.

Perhaps, it was because he had given her a chance to talk to someone new? Someone she had never seen before, that she didn’t see every day, with their own completely different set of opinions and experiences to share with her?

Or maybe it was the guilty joy that she had felt when she had broken the rules she had followed for so long. To go crazy and do whatever she wanted, without anyone holding her back, even if it was only for a short time?

Or maybe, just maybe, despite whatever fabricated feeling he had placed within her, she had believed they were real?

Or even…wanted them to BE real?

She shook her head. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter anymore.

It was over.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. A voice whispered in her head.

She gasped and look around. A few of the local ponies had emerged from their hiding places, curious of the two, and the monster they had defeated. They approached slowly, cautious of them both. Luna was talking to them, attempting to soothe their frayed nerves. Celestia couldn’t hear what she was saying.

No one was close to her. In fact, the air around her was still, and silent. Almost fearful. She realized that she couldn’t hear anything beyond a distorted mumble from those below. Slowly, her eyes drifted back to the statue in from of her.

“No…” she whispered to herself, “It can’t be…”

That’s right, Celly dear. I’m still alive, the voice mocked, and even though you may have won this round, it was a cheap shot. I’m almost proud of you. But DON’T expect to be so lucky next time.

‘Next time.’ The words filled her with dread. Would there come a day when she might have to face Discord again? Would the ponies, who were only now gaining the confidence to come closer to the two alicorns, need them to step in to protect them again? She didn’t know if she had the strength to do so.

Oh, one more thing. Good job removing the one being that could have offered you an out. You’ve just condemned yourself. You just made yourself a hero to these ponies. They’ll worship you. They’ll grovel at your feet, and raise you on a grand pedestal, untouchable to all. You may have your sister, but we both know she can’t be everything you want. What you NEED. You’ll never have the one thing you want most:

That sneering, smug voice paused, letting Celestia slowly realize what he meant. She could almost see the statue smirking at her, almost hear his maddening laughter, gloating over this little victory amidst his greatest defeat, mocking her for her victory. Reveling in this final joke.

A companion. An equal. A FRIEND.

Until next time, MY DEAR.

Discord’s voice fell silent once more, leaving Celestia standing there, stunned. She didn’t know how long she stood, trying in vain to think of what to do. A part of her wanted to smash the statue to pieces, another to hurl it into the sea, or better yet the sun. Still another part wanted to simply break down and cry where she stood. But still, she did nothing. No matter what she did, she would be doing exactly what Discord wanted. No matter what she did, he would win. So why do anything at all?

She felt a soft wing wrap around her barrel, and looked into the soft blue eyes of her sister.

“Tia?” she whispered, obviously concerned. “What is wrong? I saw you freeze up, and-“

Luna was cut short by the throng of ponies that surrounded them both, cheering for their new champions, proclaiming their greatness, not seeming to care where they had come from or what their intentions were any longer. Pegasi were sent to the neighboring towns to spread the word of the heroes. They wanted everyone in Equestria to know what had happened here, and who had done it.

A few were even talking about making them their new leaders. Princesses, queens, empresses. The word ‘Goddess’ could be heard every so often as well.

No one seemed to notice her tears in one of their savior’s eyes.

Author's Note:

Chapter 8 new and improved!

Comments

[Starlight Nova]

Will Fluttershy appear?

[Turtwig-Tales]

7855937 As a proper character? No. She isn't born yet. I do have a plan to mention her, but more as a brief nod than anything else.