My Brave Pony: The Heart of the World

by Scipio Smith

Broken Ace

Broken Ace

So far, it was fair to say that this trip had not exactly gone the way that Ace had been expecting it to.

That was a good and a bad thing.

It was not something that Ace was going to share with Twily or her friends – it seemed, from the stories that they’d told, and not just the ones that Pinkie Pie had shared with all of their… captors? Allies? It was getting a bit complicated around here – but Princess Celestia talked about Twilight and her friends a lot. And not just about the stuff that everypony already knew about; Ace had known, the same way that everypony had known, that Twily and her friends had redeemed Nightmare Moon – or rather, returned Princess Luna and gotten rid of Nightmare Moon if that was how you wanted to look at it – and saved Equestria again from Discord more recently. That was what everypony knew. But that wasn’t really what Princess Celestia talked about; Princess Celestia talked about… everything. She didn’t always, or even often, talk to guards like Ace about it, although that had happened once or twice, whether that was because Princess Celestia remembered that Ace had been a sort of friend of Twilight’s or whether she just couldn’t find anyone else to talk about it Ace wasn’t sure and wasn’t about to ask. Other times she talked to Princess Luna, or she talked to Shining Armor, or she simply talked to herself where the guards could hear her, as she had on the memorable occasion when she’d been trying to decide whether to send Twily to Ponyville or not.

It was always easy to tell when Princess Celestia had just gotten a letter from Twilight, because there was a little extra twinkle in her eye, a little touch of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, a little more amusement in her voice when she spoke.

‘Twilight has just informed me that the dragon nesting above Ponyville has been dealt with, thanks to her friend Fluttershy… Something wonderful happened in Cloudsdale today, where Twilight’s friend Rainbow Dash… Twilight’s friend Rarity just had a very lucky escape… Twilight has just written to me about her new friend Pinkie Pie…’

Yes, Princess Celestia talked a great deal about Twilight, and about Twilight’s friends. She loved hearing all about what Twily was getting up to there, and she assumed that other ponies would love hearing about it too – for what it was worth, Ace did enjoy hearing about it, it sounded as though Twilight was having a lot of fun out there. And from what Princess Celestia had said, it had sounded as thought Twilight’s friends were a nice bunch, and of course they had saved Equestria twice.

But somehow… for some reason… maybe because she just hadn’t thought it through properly or maybe the fact that Princess Celestia to come along as Twilight’s guard on this journey had created the implication in her head that Twilight would need protecting but for whatever reason… Ace hadn’t made the connection in her head the way that she really ought to have.

She hadn’t connected these six mares – these five mares, if you excluded Twilight – one of whom was a bit weird and one of whom was a bit lah-di-dah and one of whom looked as though she wouldn’t say boo to a goose – with the reason why Princess Luna was back, or the reason why Discord was back in his rightful place in the garden, or even the reason why Ponyville wasn’t choking on dragon smoke by now.

It hadn’t… it hadn’t clicked with her, shame to say. Maybe she was just an idiot – Ace could believe that – or maybe it was the fact that they didn’t really act like heroes or seem to think that they should be talked about like heroes – Rarity seemed more concerned with her dressmaking than with the fact that she had defeated Discord – but Ace hadn’t thought of them that way.

Twilight’s friends had seemed nice enough, but nothing… nothing special.

To say the least, Ace was re-evaluating her notions of what constituted specialness.

Having Pinkie Pie turn the greedy, power-hungry dragon that had taken them prisoner – twice – and all his guards into their… Ace wasn’t quite sure what they were, but nopony was bound in any way shape or form so she was going to go out on a limb and say that they weren’t prisoners, having Pinkie work such a transformation, a transformation beyond the powers of unicorn magic, would cause a pony to re-evaluate their perspective on things.

And it wasn’t just Pinkie, either, although Ace had to say that of all of Twilight’s friends she had impressed Ace the most so far, if only by the scale of what she had managed to achieve. But perhaps that was being unfair to Fluttershy, without whom they would have all literally died in the desert after they escaped from Cirta; the only reason, the only reason, why they were still alive was because Fluttershy had been able to communicate with that lizard, to persuade or charm it into leading them to water.

And that was without getting into the fact that they only reason they’d escaped from Cirta in the first place was because of Spike. Because of Spike!

The others had not been quite so impressive, but it was fair to say that most of them had pulled a good quantity of weight over the course of this trip: Twilight had won them the support and friendship of the zebras of Utica; Rarity had found a zebra who could warn them of what they could expect in Qartaggia; and if Mantle hadn’t intervened then Ace was of the opinion that they might just have escaped the trap thanks to Rainbow’s warning and the fight she had given the bandits to hold them off from closing the ring.

Only Applejack had so far failed to distinguish herself upon this journey, and Ace couldn’t blame her for that because… because Ace hadn’t distinguished herself either.

So far, she might as well not have come.

Yes, indeed, she was re-evaluating her notions of what constituted specialness.

And whether she had any of it herself.

Nopony joined the Royal Guard in order to be a hero. When Ace and Shining Armor had been new recruits, wet behind the ears, that had been the first lesson drilled into them by old Ash Lance: they were not heroes, they were not on any kind of glory road, nopony was going to remember their names. They were public servants, there to help out where help was required, no more no less. Ace had been paying attention, and she hadn’t put on the armour because she wanted glory, but…

But all the same…

What was the point of being a servant to a public who didn’t really need your help? It wasn’t like she was asking to save the day or nothing but when Princess Celestia had asked her to volunteer for this assignment she had thought that maybe…

Ace didn’t know why she was here, to be honest. Perhaps she had put Princess Celestia’s mind at ease, but at the same time Ace couldn’t help but think that she might as well not have been here so far for all the good that she’d done and all that she’d contributed.

She hadn’t kept Twilight and the others safe in Cirta, or from being captured by Mantle. She had been… dead weight.

And when you thought about it, the wonder was not that this had happened but that anypony had expected anything else. After all, Twilight and her friends had saved Equestria, it was no wonder that they were handling themselves well out here. And what had Ace done by comparison? Policed an island of guano off the coast of Manehatten? That hadn’t exactly impacted the fate of Equestria, had it?

Ace didn’t mean to sulk, but some of her thoughts must have shown up on her face, or in her body language, because one night, as Pinkie was telling the story of how Twilight had met this pony Lightning Dawn who was the reason that she had come out here in the first place, Twilight – who had, after all, already heard the story – sought Ace out.

“Can we talk?” she asked softly, her voice barely rising above a whisper so as not to disturb the storytelling. “Somewhere a little more private?”

Ace looked around. It ought to have seemed absurd to be talking about going somewhere private considering that they had been captured by these people, but their status had changed by unspoken agreement thanks to Pinkie’s magic, and when Ace got up and silently began to lead the way towards the edge of the camp, no zebra objected.

Twilight followed. Neither of them left the camp – there had been no sign of their grey-robed attackers since Mantle and his cohorts had arrived, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t out there, waiting – but they did go almost to the edge of it, away from all the zebras who were not on picket duty, and only there did Ace turn back to Twilight Sparkle.

“Something on your mind, Twily?” she asked. A smile crossed her features. “Or did you just not want to hear that story again?”

Twilight chuckled. “That… that might be part of it,” she admitted. “It’s not that I… I mean, I’ve heard all these stories before; I lived most of them. And I understand why Pinkie’s telling it; she isn’t doing it cynically but to take a more cynical view it might even persuade Mantle that I deserve the chance to reach the Heart of the World before he does.” She paused. “Not something that I ever thought I’d say.”

“He’s turned out to be a little bit of a softy, hasn’t he?” Ace asked. “Or did Pinkie make him that way?”

“With Pinkie, it’s a little hard to tell,” Twilight murmured. “Anyway, the point is… unlike most of her stories, that one is-“

“Sad?” Ace asked.

Twilight nodded. “I mean… if the story had happy ending, we wouldn’t be here, would we?”

Ace frowned. “It… it could be worse, Twily?”

Twilight raised one eyebrow. “It could be worse? It could be worse? Ace, he fell into a deathly void, they both did. How could it possibly be worse than that?”

At least you know he loved you, Ace thought bitterly. To Twilight, though, she endeavoured to find something more helpful to say. “If there is one thing that I’ve learned over the course of this journey, Twilight, it’s not to bet against you or your friends. If anypony can get him back, it’s you.”

A faint smile, touched with melancholy, crossed Twilight’s face. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I… I want him back,” she admitted. “I could say that so long as I knew he and Krysta were alive I’d be content with that but the truth is… the truth is that it would only be a start. I want him back. I want them both back. I want… I want him by my side.”

“Of course you do,” Ace said. “You love him, don’t you?”

A blush rose to Twilight’s cheeks. “I guess I do, don’t I?”

“Perhaps I ought to listen to the story to understand why,” Ace said.

“You might struggle,” Twilight replied. “I know that Rainbow still does. To be honest… I’m not all that sure I could explain it myself, it… he was-“

“Handsome?” Ace guessed.

“Ace!” Twilight squawked indignantly. “I mean, yes, he was, but do you really think I’m that shallow?”

“No, of course not,” Ace said quickly, holding up one apologetic hoof. “What was it about him?”

Twilight hesitated for a moment. “It was… the moments when he let his guard down,” she said. “The moments when he stopped being the prince and just became Lightning Dawn. It was… it was like a transformation. He went from proud and stern and stiff too… adorable, silly, endearing… and real. It was in those moments that I felt like I was seeing the real him, the one that he only let a few people see… those closest to him. If I said I felt privileged by that, would it sound ridiculous.”

“Not at all,” Ace replied, her voice growing slightly hoarse. “You’ll do it, Twilight, I know you will.”

“Thank you,” Twilight said softly. “But, what about you? Are you… doing okay?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because… you seem a little… off,” Twilight said. “If there’s anything wrong… I can’t promise that I can help but I can promise that I’ll try.”

Ace snorted. “I believe you,” she murmured. She smiled. “I remember when I used to pick you up from school sometimes because your brother was on shift.”

Twilight chuckled. “You used to take me for ice cream, but only if I promised not to tell anypony.”

“Princess Celestia knew,” Ace said.

“Really?”

“She’s the reason I started cutting down how much I let you have,” Ace replied.

Twilight covered her mouth with one hoof as she laughed.

“And now look at you,” Ace went on. “Asking me how I’m doing.”

“Right now, I’m starting to wonder if you’re trying to change the subject,” Twilight said. “How are you doing, Ace?”

I’m feeling unworthy of that name, you should just call me Sunshine, Ace thought. I’m feeling inadequate compared to you and your friends. I’m feeling useless. I’m feeling… like there’s no need for me to be here.

No need at all.

But all she said was, “I’m fine, Twilight. But thanks for asking.”

Perhaps she would have done better to have politely declined the princess’ request and stayed in Canterlot. Perhaps she would have done better to have persuaded Princess Celestia that Twilight didn’t need a guard because she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

But then, Ace reflected that if she’d stayed in Canterlot she likely would have done very little except brood on Shining Armor and the way that he had, completely unknowingly and with no intent, hurt her.

At least here she could still hope for the chance, however unlikely it might seem, to prove herself useful.

She got that chance a few days later.

During those few days they were escorted still by Mantle and by his zebra warriors. Pinkie had told the story of Lightning Dawn, his arrival in Equestria and his meeting with Twilight, but the dragon – for all that he had become much friendlier towards the ponies he had once menaced – had said very little about it, not for a day or two.

It was on the second day, as they were breaking camp, that he approached Twilight, his claws digging into the sand as he looked down on her.

“Twilight Sparkle,” he said, “I have thought on the story that Pinkie Pie told to us all concerning the need that brought you here in search of the Heart of the World.” He paused. “You may be unique.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Unique? No, I don’t think that I-“

“Many have sought the Heart of the World since it vanished,” Mantle said. “Or perhaps, if you are right that it is where it has always been, I should say rather that many have sought it since it was forgotten where to find it. But always those who sought it did so for power, or wealth, or glory. Many an Emperor of the Most Ancient Empire has sought to legitimise or expand their rule by seeking out the Heart, and many a dragon lord has sought to make themselves emperor with the help of the Heart… I count myself amongst that number, when Spike told me of the object of your quest all I could think was how I could use it to expand my wealth and power. Even you ponies are not immune to the allure of such, if I understand your tales of Sunset Shimmer and Dawn Starfall aright. Dragon, zebras and ponies alike have sought the Heart of the World for their own gain and all have failed, often at their cost. You are the first creature I have ever heard of to seek the Heart for the sake of another.”

Twilight’s cheeks turned red. “I don’t know if you could call my motives selfless,” she murmured.

“To do something for love is not the same as to do so for wealth or dominion,” Mantle replied. “In fact it is a far cry.” He settled down upon the sands. “And you do love him, do you not?”

Twilight nodded. “Does that not sound very strange to a dragon?”

“Think you that just because I am a dragon I know nothing of love?” Mantle asked.

“No,” Twilight said quickly. “Well… maybe a little.”

Mantle chuckled. “It has been some time,” he confessed. “But I felt love once. I loved a female so much that I fought another male in combat for her.”

“That is… um… well, different cultures have different notions of romance, I suppose,” Rarity murmured.

“Would that it were so,” Mantle muttered. “When the fight was done she informed us both that she was not a prize to be won and flew off. I believe she rejoined our barbaric kin.”

“So who won the fight?” Rainbow asked.

Mantle sighed. “That hardly matters now, does it?”

“You mean you lost.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight scolded her.

Mantle shook his head, flicking the spikes that ran down his back side to side. “This quest,” he said, “is yours. I have no right to take it from you.”

Twilight gasped. Her mouth hung open for a moment. “You mean-“

“My followers and I will go with you, as close as we are permitted to Mount Hyperion,” Mantle declared. “I would very much like to look upon the Heart of the World, but I will not stand in your way. When the final part of the journey approaches, I and my followers will stand aside. Twilight Sparkle will gain all that she seeks, with our aid!”

A cheer went up from the zebras of his company, while Twilight continued to stare at the great dragon, her eyes even wider than they had been before.

Wider, and beginning to fill with tears.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you, I… how can I repay you-“

“You already have,” Mantle said. “You have shown me, through your tales, how to be better than I have been. Let me then be better, without delay. If more valued love and friendship over gold and power it would be a merrier world, I do not doubt; therefore, let me make it merrier with a word.” He bowed his head. “The strength of Cirta is at your service.”

And with the strength of Cirta at her service, Ace couldn’t help but think, what need have you for me?

---

Two days later, a thick fog descended upon them. Ace couldn’t work out where the fog had come from – she hadn’t known that you could get fog in a land as warm as this, and judging by Twilight’s reaction of incomprehension she was taken aback by it, too.

The fog had stolen on them more like a thief than an invading army: it had evaded the notice of the sentries in the camp, of Rainbow Dash though she now soared high above the column, of Mantle and his sentries. It had escaped all of their notice. It had simply stolen upon them, creeping up in the night so that when they awoke they were blanketed in a thick, impenetrable mist.

They called out to one another because they could barely see in front of their faces; they huddled close together because the only way to know who was there was if they were almost touching you; Mantle’s fire was about the only thing that could be seen in the mist, a beacon of crimson and gold dancing amidst the cloying milky shroud that blinded their eyes. But even the fire of a dragon – and little Spike tried it too, his green fire flaring – could not burn away this fog. It could act as a signal, it could provide a light to rally around – Twilight and her friends gathered around Spike because they could find him more easily than anypony else – but it could not clear the air.

Nor, for that matter, could Rainbow Dash, flying through the mist at such speeds she would have been in danger of hitting someone – or the ground – if she had flown just a little lower.

“This weather is not natural,” Rainbow complained. “I ought to be able to clear it away.”

“Maybe it’s like the Everfree Forest,” Fluttershy murmured, “where the weather and nature acts on its own, without the need for anypony to help it – because nopony can.”

“That might be possible,” Twilight conceded. “But even if that were the case it shouldn’t be possible for a weather event like this to occur organically in a place like this; there isn’t enough moisture in the air. Rainbow Dash, did you see how high up it went?”

“To do that I’d have to get to the top of it,” Rainbow grumbled. “Do you want me to try and find the edges of it?”

“No,” Twilight said quickly. “What if you couldn’t find your way back; going straight up then straight down again is one thing but… I’d rather keep you here, if that’s okay.”

“Twilight Sparkle!” Mantle called, accompanying his cry with a burst of fire that briefly illuminated the mist.

“Yes?” Twilight called back. “Yes, I’m here. We’re all here!”

“I do not think that we should attempt to march,” Mantle declared. “We would hardly know in which direction we were marching. We must remain camped here until this mist recedes.”

“That doesn’t look like happening anytime soon,” Rarity murmured.

“But Mantle’s right,” Twilight said, despite the obvious reluctance in her voice. “How would we know that we were heading towards Mount Hyperion when we can’t see a few feet in front of us?”

Ace looked around, for all the good that it did her; the zebra warriors in the camp were like ghosts, mere shapes in the fog, striped figures almost impossible to pin down. Their voices she could make out, some of them at least, they seemed as concerned as Twilight and her friends were.

As concerned as Ace was.

The zebras, too, seemed to think that this fog was decidedly not normal.

“What weather is this for the desert, at this time of year?”

“Perhaps it is an omen.”

“An omen? More like it is a warning from the Heart of the World that we were not meant to possess it.”

“But we will not, Twilight Sparkle will.”

“Then perhaps she was not meant to possess it.”

Ace shuddered. She thought – she hoped – that it would take more than a little mist to erase all of the good will that Pinkie Pie had won them, but at the same time it wasn’t good that doubt in their mission could be so easily sewn.

They’ll forget all about it once the mist clears up.

If the mist clears up.

Ace frowned, even though nopony could see it. “Twilight,” she said, “is it possible to create a mist that was nevertheless… that Rainbow Dash or pegasi couldn’t affect?”

There was no reply.

“Twilight?” Ace repeated, fearing that she might have gone and she had missed it.

“Of course!” Twilight groaned. “I should have realised, I’m so stupid!”

“Realised what, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.

“Artefacts!” Twilight cried. “Magical artefacts, Ra-“

A spear flew through the mist and buried itself at Twilight’s hooves.