Nothing Stays the Same
"And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend; legend became myth."
-Galadriel, The Lord of the Rings
Many, Many Years Ago...
‘Discord is strong… his magic is more advanced than yours.’ Honesty’s words rang through Celestia’s head as she twisted away from a blast Discord sent at her. He sensed Celestia’s panic build and let out a sigh. ‘But… he is not all powerful. There is a chance.’
‘You have to continue on; you owe it to your subjects to give all you can, even your life,’ Generosity said nobly, her non-corporal form hovering around solar princess. ‘The greatest gift you can give them is their freedom.’
‘Totally!’ Loyalty proclaimed. If he had a chest he would have been puffing it out like a peacock. ‘He might be stronger but that won’t stop you! Everyone is counting on you! You can’t let them down!’
‘Discord is a meanie pants even if he doesn’t wear pants. The cotton candy is kinda funny, though...’ Laughter giggled. Celestia rolled her eyes and the abstract quickly added, ‘But hurting ponies isn’t funny at all, so we should stop him!’
‘That’s right,’ Kindness said; her voice gentle but firm, urging the princess to hold strong. ‘You can do it Celestia… we can do it. We can’t let Discord win… we can’t let him hurt any other pony. That is what matters… making sure no pony is ever hurt again.’
Celestia twisted towards Luna, who was doing all she could avoid the swarm of monkey bees (one of Discord’s stranger creations). All those words flowed through her head, urging her on… but that did her little good. Because even though she had their encouragement, that did little to protect her from the deadly spells and chaos magic that was lashing out all around her, trying to take her body and soul. She could see it in Luna’s eyes and knew the same look was shining from her own: fear.
They knew they couldn’t win.
‘Yes you can,’ a new voice whispered.
Celestia and Luna both felt a sixth presence join with the other five. They had used the ancient magics of their mother to call upon the five elements that best represented harmony, in hopes that the peaceful magic would be able to counter Discord’s magic. Honesty, Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity and Laughter… the five things that represented friendship and love and togetherness… all things Discord was against (save laughter but even then his type of laughter did not match theirs… his was the laughter of one against another and theirs was laughter shared by all).
But this… they had not expected this 6th element to appear.
Celestia could feel the other elements shifting with unease as the 6th joined them. Though she could not hear actual words, she knew they were communicating with this final abstract, trying to discern why he had come. In fact, if she didn’t know any better, she’d think they were actually bickering with each other!
‘We are,’ the new element whispered. ‘They don’t like baby brother coming in to help… especially when I am not invited.’
‘Brother?’ Celestia thought back. Abstracts had families?
A bolt of chaos magic nearly burned her mane off.
‘We can discuss it later. You’ll need my power along with theirs to defeat Discord. I am here to help… all believe in you Celestia. Luna stands by your side because she knows the two of you can do this. Your subjects and this country watch the skies and there is not a single one that doesn’t believe in you. You have lost family to Discord and they have fallen knowing you will succeed. Take my power and together we will defeat him. Now is the time to rise…and now is the time to fight!’
It was these words, more than all others, that compelled Celestia to fight back. But even as she began to weave the spell that would merge the power of the elements, a final question rose in her mind. ‘What are you?’
‘Faith,’ the final element stated. ‘I am Faith.’
~MC~MC~MC~
Discord would fall. That much is known. It is taught to all foals and is celebrated throughout Equestria. The Princesses, along with the Elements of Harmony, had defeated him and turned the beast to stone. All praised the princesses and help the elements in their hearts: Kindness, Loyalty, Generosity, Honesty, Laughter…
…and the final one.
The lost one.
For Celestia was the only one to know his name; even Luna never learned of the final element that had come to their aid, for he had not been called but arrived on his own, in the hour of need. The solar princess held the power of his name and, in a moment she would look upon as one of her greatest mistakes… would find herself doubting that any but herself could wield the powers of the elements. It was an understandable mistake, one none could fault her for… and yet the ramifications would haunt Equestria for years to come.
The 6th Elements name was hidden… and as time went on even Celestia… even his fellow abstracts… forgot his name. So too did the element himself; his purpose taken and his identity ripped away. Lost and abandoned, he found another like himself: Luna, the Princess of the Night. Together in the darkness they would lean upon each other. It would be the 6th element that would encourage her to rise up and show Celestia that there was an equal to her power. He did this in hopes that Celestia would reveal his name to herself and to Luna… and he would regain his self-worth.
But he was betrayed.
Luna became Nightmare Moon and the final element found himself facing down his friend, forced to take away his protection from her and leave her at the mercy of Celestia. He fled in horror and as the years went by he slowly began to fade. But where he should have died… something amazing happened. Obsession drove him and the final element found a new role for him to play. As for his name, he chose the emotion that had started it all.
He became Doubt.
His brothers and sisters watched as the twisted abstract tampered with the lives of many ponies but were powerless to stop him. He remembered him not as their brother but as merely another abstract and thus their words and pleas meant nothing to him. And thus it was that they became enemies, turned upon one another.
Then… Doubt was reborn. Twilight Sparkle, who fell into the darkest pits of despair, rose up with the help of friendship and love. And it was her, the wielder of Doubt’s power, who rediscovered his name. And so it was that Faith rose once more, returned to his prior role, while the unicorn that had held his power became an alicorn.
Faith had returned.
But it was already too late.
~MC~MC~MC~
Twilight was practically skipping down the road. The smile she wore was so big that Pinkie would have become green with envy at the sight of it. Of course, Pinkie wouldn't be able to stay made for long, as Twilight planned to wrap her friend up in a tight hug and not let go the moment she saw her. Unless, of course, she was already hugging Applejack or Rarity or Rainbow Dash or Fluttershy...
The lavender alicorn's wings fluttered a bit, adding a bit of lift to her skips. In fact, it would be better to say that she was trying to keep her hooves on the ground; she felt like leaping about and crying out in glee. She was a foal on Hearth's Warming Day spying a mountain of presents next to the Hearth Shrine, filled with energy and joy.
The two months had done her wonders. When she had left Ponyville she had been so unsure of herself and her place in the world. After her brother's almost wedding and the changeling attack Twilight had fallen into despair. Those negative feelings had led her to embrace that darkness within her and led her down a dark path.... and to Doubt, the fallen 6th Element of Harmony. The abstract had guided her and given her power to embrace her wild side and, truth be told, she had loved it.
Then had come her elevation and Doubt taking physical form. Twilight had been free from her friends influence and with the power her and Doubt held, the two had been ready to take on the world.
Except her friends, her wonderful friends, had come to her and reaffirmed their connection to her. Things hadn't instantly healed themselves but at least they had managed to clear the air.
Things had been caught up in a whirlwind after that. Doubt, his spirit already dying, began to rapidly fade. The revelation of his true name had returned him to his original form, as that of Faith. The spell to save him had reduced much of Twilight's alicorn strength; making her look much like her old unicorn self, save with wings.
It was around that time that Twilight decided she needed a holiday. So much had happened in 3 days and she hadn't been able to catch her breath. Her friends and family had supported the decision and Twilight, along with Spike and Faith, had journeyed across the sea. They had found a small island and spent weeks in isolation. Each had used the time to learn new things about themselves and find a peace that all needed.
But now she was back and Twilight felt so excited to see everyone again.
"Twilight, could you stop bouncing up and down? I'm going to get sea sick," Spike complained.
"But we aren't on the sea, Spike." Twilight did, however, shift into a trot. "Do you think they'll have a party waiting for us?"
"I hope so... I mean, the seastone on that island were nice but I could really go for one of Pinkie's cupcakes."
"I want an apple... a fresh, juicy apple." Twilight murmured in delight at the thought of one of Sweet Apple Acre's wonderful apples.
"Twilight?"
"Yeah Spike?"
"It's good to be home."
"Yeah... it really is."
The two lapsed into silence. They had been walked for two days, having left the ship at Bridle Bay and deciding they wanted to enjoy the sights and smells of the mother country, rather than teleport. Twilight, though now powerful beyond measure, had found that with the ability to be anywhere the desire to do things the simple way had grown strong in her heart. Where once she would have used magic to carry things she now did it the old fashion way... it just seemed right. To use her strength and magic on frivolous tasks was... an insult to the black and white magic that now swirled within her.
"What the heck?" Spike said, clamoring up Twilight's head and pointing at a strange structure that blocked the road. "What is that?"
"It's a toll booth!" Twilight said in surprise. "What the heck is a toll booth doing on this road?" They were traveling down the main path to Ponyville; to have a toll booth here was unheard of.
To see several large pegasi with unnaturally brilliant coats manning it left the two with wide eyes.
To see the guards viciously assaulting a pony who lay curled up in a ball had Twilight seeing red.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" Twilight bellowed, using her magic to project her voice. The guards turned, their slanty eyes shining darkly as they took in the small alicorn. "Why are you assaulting this pony? Have you forgotten your duty? Princess Celestia will have your armor-"
"Where the hay have you been?" one of the dark pegasi snapped. "You been sleeping under a rock?"
"I have been traveling," Twilight said coldly. "Now... tell me why I shouldn't report you at once to the Princess."
Several guards snickered and their apparently leader made his way towards her. "The princesses have been relieved of their duties. The Queens rule now and they don't take kindly to filth like this one."
"The queens?" Spike questioned. "Are you crazy?"
"You watch your mouth!" one guard snapped. "We don't take kindly to rudeness here in Equestria. If you want to go against Harmony I suggest you turn and flee back across the ocean."
"Yeah... how about a big fat no?" Twilight flared out her wings. "Tell me... do you know who I am?"
"A rude, mouthy little pegasus with a fake horn plastered on her head."
Twilight smiled as white and black magic began to swirl around her. "Close and yet so far. I am Twilight Sparkle, former student of Princess Celestia." Her mane began to billow, elongating as it became pure energy. Within it many shooting stars raced along as the flow grew darker. "And, as of 2 months ago, the Alicorn of the Stars." Twilight's magic flared out. "But not just any stars... shooting stars." Twilight lowered her head and smirked. "As in wishing stars. You know… the magical ones."
The guards twitched, suddenly finding themselves rooted in place.
"Having trouble? Maybe that's because I wished you'd all freeze in place and not move until I am a good 30 minutes away." Twilight moved among the statuesque pegasi, her magic slowly withdrawing back within her. She approached the moaning pony that guards had been striking. "Don't worry, they won't-"
Twilight's world suddenly shifted and all she could see was the trembling unicorn stallion that lay before her, his white coat matted with blood. His eyes were nearly sealed shut and his ribs jutted out at awkward angles against his sides. And yet... the poor creature still managed a smile as he gazed upon her, blood streaming from the sockets where teeth had once been rooted.
"Twiley..."
"Shiny..." Twilight whispered, before falling to the ground, tears in her eyes. "Shiny... by the Creator, what happened to you?"
"What happened was he got what he deserved for betraying the Queens and trying to sow disharmony!" one of the guards called out.
Twilight's eyebrow twitched and she slowly turned her head, black magic rolling off of her in waves even as her white magic wrapped around her brother, soothing his pain like a mother hen would comfort her chick. "And you call beating him to near death harmonious?"
"He deserves what he gets and more!" another guard snapped, struggling to move. "To go against the Elements of Harmony is to be against Equestria. The Elements ARE Equestria and all traitors are to be eliminated. Harmony must be preserved!"
"Funny," Twilight said. She never raised her voice and that was more chilling than any scream. That was the terrifying part… the quiet pitch of her voice. "I happen to be the final Element of Harmony... the Element of Faith." Twilight began to rise in the air, her right eye turning pure white while the left darkened to the deepest of obsidian. “Does that mean my word is law?”
"Twiley... don't," Shining Armor croaked out.
"Are you kidding?" Spike exclaimed, speaking up for the first time since stumbling about the thugs. "They were beating you to a pulp!"
"They... they can't control themselves... the Queens are using magic..."
Twilight nodded to herself. "Good thing I'm very magical." Dark tendrils lashed out and the pegasi guards let out screams as Twilight's magic struck them. The alicorn flinched slightly, her face screwing up in concentration before the guards fell, their colors dulling slightly to more natural tones. "All power... but whoever cast the spell lacks finesse." She focused and the guards disappeared in a flash of white light.
"Did you vaporize them?" Spike asked.
"Of course not!" Twilight said aghast. "I merely sent them to the island we were on so they could recover."
"... so you most likely vaporized them."
"Shut up," Twilight said, making another silent wish and healing Shining Armor. The unicorn slowly stood up, startled at how good he felt after the hours of agony. "Shiny... we need to talk."
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Ladies and Gentlemen... The Abundance.
I honestly never expected Faith and Doubt to explode like it did, let alone inspire a sequel. If you had asked me would a sequel to F&D would be about, I'd have told you in the begining that I had no clue.
But as I developed Doubt's backstory I began to examine the other elements... and a thought occurred to me: some of history's greatest monsters hid behind noble ideas. How many wars have been fought because of patriotism? What some see as kindness others see as oppression. The same with all the other elements... what is ok for one person is horrible for the other and the exact opposite of what it should be.
And thus, The Abundance: a tale of what happens when heroes believe too much in their element and, in an attempt to do good do evil things.
Remember what Gandalf said of The One Ring: I would use this ring from a desire to do good... But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.
That is the true power of evil... it takes the noblest of ideas and makes it the most cruel.
Drop everything and read!
its already amazing!
24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbpiszWWHw1r05905o1_400.jpg
notices notification number thingy.
you trying to give me another blog post mr. notifications number?
i dont remeber th-
SEQUAL ALREADY!
*click*
*click*
YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYESYE-
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
1570698
Just another 5 minutes and I'll get back to writing my ess... OOH A NEW CHAPTER.
Amazing! This is gonna be great!
Let the fun, insanity, and epicness begin. What's at the end? Who knows, but it should be a great ride.
...What the hell just happened?
Goddamnit Celestia. You had one job. ONE JOB!
To protect Equestria while Twilight could recuperate on her 2 month vacation and come back to the Ponyville she knew and loved.
AND YOU FUCKED IT UP!
Well like they say...
Another day, Another deity to defeat.
Let's get things back to normal again, eh?
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Power, absolute power, yadda yadda.
This story promises as much as it threatens.
I can't ask, beg, our demand anything of you, but I can see this very easily going downhill very very fast. Suppose I'll just have to exercise... faith
And so it begins
1570866
I will only say this... did not everyone expect a "Twilight goes nuts fic and murders everypony" when it came to Faith and Doubt?
And did I not go a completely different route?
What makes you think I am going to go anywhere near the cliche?
1570716
I was gonna do that
1570882 I am voicing my fears to banish them, if I truly believed you would do that, I wouldn't be here - and I certainly wouldn't have already favorited and up-voted your story.
Please forgive me my outburst - I'm here because/in spite of the fact that your writing scares the crap out of me.
...in a good way?
1570916
Um.....sorry
1570936
I'll take what I can get.
I will mention that I have 3 more chapters in the bag, so I won't feel as rushed as I did with Faith and Doubt (and it lets me take days off to play Assassin's Creed 3 and work on custom blind bag pony modes for people).
1570971
Now comes the question... where is Cadance?
1570862
But I wanted to sleep!
1571035 Too bad.
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This fic will be a perfect example of good intentions, bad execution. And even what is being thrown at the popualance as the good thing to do, ends up as horrific. (Example: People thought Hittler as a hero, inculding the pope.)
All I can say is that this will probably end in tears on both sides.
Also, a couple things that irk me:
First, this: "all things Discord was against (save laughter but even then his type of laughter did not match theirs… his was the laughter of one against another and theirs was laughter shared by all)."
The part in the parentheses feels really akward and interrupts the flow. I had to pause my thought process for it.
Second, the lack of numbers being spelled out (eg sixth vs. 6th) irritates me, as I'm used to seeing spelled out numbers in published writing and major fics. It's nothing which needs to be changed, do your own thing and all that.
1565451 I personally love your story and philosophy on this it is true that power corrupts the weak. and power twists all good actions.
but for the love of all that is good blame ithe evil on the elements not the other main 5, i couldnt stand to see an evil fluttershy
also will this be updated every other day?
Lastly have some gifs that induce a sweetness coma24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m121w0OURn1qm02wmo1_400.gif i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/208/183/90298%20-%20animated%20artist%253Atomdantherock%20artist%253Avalcron%20celestia%20filly%20gif%20luna%20spinning.gif?1322379782 i.chzbgr.com/completestore/12/9/22/yrf5IBYtdUm8rMAH8IAevg2.gif
I started reading Faith and Doubt because I wanted a rebel Twilight no longer accepting blame and calling everyone out. I know you wanted a twist and flavor for your story, but transforming her into an alicorn and bringing out doubt actually felt pretty... lame. I know he worked out mainly to pull some philosophy out there. To me he kinda ruined the story as he felt as a deux ex machina, even though it was your intention from the start to bring him out.
Know, suddenly every element being corrupt and all becoming alicorn really seems forced and doesn't make sense unless you really twist the show.
Why has Equestria become corrupt, according to the abstracts? Celestia failed as a leader?
She was never perfect, did what was necessary to protect the kingdom and her sister, but she created a damn utopia. We don't see poverty or crime in the show, nor corruption, unless you count some jerkish upper class and the market ponies. She couldn't stop Discord without the elements, so she was benched, no idea what happened during NMM (she could have been taken out or planned for Twilight's involuntary, or just had faith that Twilight could succeed since she knew of the prophesy.)
This kinda feels like cheap divinity. Reminds me of the angels in supernatural. Powerful beings that in the end are wither too narrow minded or a bunch of whinny brats. The problem with sentient abstract concepts is that they only see one point of view.
I can see how this could play out:
Honesty can be harmful, as sometime lies are necessary for the greater good.
Too much generosity leads to dependence and stagnates progress.
Laughter has it's place, but so does seriousness.
Kindness is great, but sometimes cruelty is necessary.
Blind loyalty can be worst than treason.
The elements, aside from Twi, haven't shown any leadership capabilities and yet now they are queens of a kingdom. Hell it's kinda like the lion king, everything was fine but some idiot think they could do it better and made it into a wasteland.
Twilight was kinda like Shepard from ME in the story and the show. She made bold accusations and had no solid proof, but is angry that they didn't support her. Being friend doesn't mean blind loyalty, and sometime you need to be cruel to get the point across. It kinda felt like she wanted Celestia and the girls to pay her debt to her.
In the end the question is why? Why do this? There is no reason to influence the elements and take over equestria, it's already peaceful and can take care of themselves. If the abstracts are corrupted, it feels cheap, if not, you need a very good reason to sell their motives.
I will keep reading but this twists and plot are not what I expected when I started, and I'm not sure that's such a good thing. Kinda feels like a bait and switch.
Oh goddamnit harmony
What the fuck. What the serious fuck. I know I should've been expecting this, but I doubt I'll enjoy this. Still, faving it to track it... I'm withholding my thumb though, for now.
This is intriguing!
I can't wait to find out if Celly and Luna left after getting an ass wipping or if they left on their own initiative (with the assumption that civil war is the worst possible outcome).
Things were probably pretty bad during the Celestial War a thousand plus years ago. I can not see Celestia or Luna doing it all over again with even more alicorns involved.
How Twilight / Celestia / Luna will convince the rest of the main 6 to stop being tyranical douchebags i do not know ...
The time skip was a little disconcerting, and this chapter was mostly filled with recaps, but an excelent start and I look forwards to more.
Please tell me this is the last sequel...
not that I don't like this story, but I really want a solid, finished ending after this.
Well, faved. Tracking. And I'm probably going to end up having to be the one to make the TVTropes page again, right?
1570882
. I've just read a lot of summaries like that where the summary was like yours and the story was comprised of aforementioned angstwankery.
You know, I've only just now put F&D on my 'to-read' list because of your comment; I looked at the description when it came up in the featured box and just went.. 'noob-style angst-as-substitute-for-plot story.. NOOO THANKS!'. It sounds like it will actually be a good story from what I read here
1570846 Well, it's a good thing Twilight is a total badass super genius.
Ugh... and so it seems I was proven right in my assumptions. I went into this story cautiously, knowing it was likely gonna be even more dark in its aspect than Faith and Doubt, yet all it's taken is one chapter for me to already dislike the premise of this story: Twilight's friends becoming the Queens and turning most all of Equestria into mindless slaves?
I honestly am shocked, even if knew this may've been coming. The scenes on Equestria's past were nice touches and certainly explained I guess a bit about the other abstracts, as well as about how the others see Faith (still known to them as Doubt, though) as an enemy now, not one of their family anymore. Such a giant misunderstanding (I assume) and mess this is gonna be... 
And Shining Armor getting beaten to a pulp? I guess I can understand that, if he's still loyal to Equestria's former Princesses/rulers. Though have to wonder what happened to them, not to mention Cadence. But I guess that'll all be explained next chapter, no doubt. It is with a cautious heart that I track this story, if only of hopes in seeing where it goes and that it gets better eventually. I honestly hope Twilight knocks some sense into her former(?) friends, and Faith does the same to his siblings, at least in due time. Won't downvote it just yet, in case I later like it, but right now, not holding my breath...
1571293
You and me both, dude. As far as a thumb up or down.
So here we are again.
I've always love a story that has a sound theme or message, even if a bit cliche. However what makes your work that much better is the way you present those themes. It's rare to see an author with so much insight on how people think, and to think he writes incredible Fan-Fiction!
I have high hopes for this story, and I'm sure you wont disappoint.
tvrefill.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/awesome.jpg .
1571953
Probably. And what do you mean 'last'? This is the only sequel to Faith and Doubt
Happy face
yes!
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can't wait to see where this goes!
I was wondering throughout the chapter where Faith was. Did he suddenly disappear?
1572598
Faith is around... he has sworn to protect Twilight... which should show you just how powerful she is that he doesn't view a squad of pegasus guards as a threat.
Favorited and liked
Sorry but I don't feel like writing a long review right now, maybe later so...
I like it! moar please!
Great to see the sequel, and it's a nice start. Really interested in what will come.
WTF did I just read? I honestly hadn't expected any of this. That's a good thing though.
No on so many levels.
1565451 My money is bouncing off the screen. How can you have all my money if it's bouncing off the screeeeeeen?!
(reads the description) ...the twist is that this is a dream right? (finger cross)
Hmm, like the idea here.
By any chance have you played Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny. Because this gives me some flashbacks to that game,
1574411
Nope... but alot of this is inspired by Assassin Creeds 3 and the fact that the villains always tell the hero that they were doing the moral thing and he was wrong.
1574612
Had't fought of Assassins Creed 3, great game with a lot of moral grey shades.
Still Ultima V, might be a good place to find some more inspiration, if you should need it.
The setting of the game is that the ruler of the world have taking the religion off the game, (which is based upon 8 virtues, Honesty, Compassion, Valor, Humility etc.) and turned the virtues into law, creating a world of moral absolution, where those who don't follow the virtues to the the letter, will be punished as criminals.
But no matter where you got your inspiration, this still seams interesting, and can't wait to read more.