“You are still you… this is just merely another part.”
-The Metatron, Dogma
It was a small miracle that The Abundance hadn’t descended into pure anarchy. Scootaloo's screams had brought not only Faith and Honesty but also Twilight and Trixie, who had been heading to talk with Faith and settle the differences that lay between the three of them. Their cries of alarm at finding not one but two more abstracts than they had been expecting brought Shining, Spike, Celestia, and Luna racing in. There had been shouts of surprise and fear, magic had filled the air, and like keg of dynamite sitting in a lighter factory, all it would take was one small spark to cause things to explode.
"Everypony, I need you all to settle down," Faith had said calmly as the chaos swirled around him. Honesty was snapping at Luna after the lunar goddess had made a rather insulting remark, Shining and Spike looked ready to tie Scootaloo in chains and Twilight and Trixie were babbling out apologizes. "I understand that this is all confusing but you need to-" Faith didn't get to finish, as some pony (no one was ever able to discover who) threw a bolt of energy right past his nose. "Fine then... you will all shut up because I AM MONOLOUGING!"
The bellow was enough to get them to all simmer down. Faith flared out his wings in annoyance, sending withering glances at all of them before he began to speak again.
"Now then... obviously answers need to be given to the questions that are quite clearly bubbling up in your brains. If you will all be kind enough to sit down, we will handle this in a rational and sane manner. Of course, if you’d all rather babble on like chickens then you can go ahead and do so, but I have had a long, stressful day, which came on the heels of several move long, stressful days, so my patience is at its limits and I will be leaving if you do not all sit down and act like adults." All the ponies, even the princesses, wisely settled down on the floor. He whipped around and glared at Honesty, who, for his part, actually cringed. "I told you to stay in the cabin, didn't I?"
"I was worried..." the older abstract said, only for his baby brother to roll his eyes and motion for him to shut his gob.
"Now then... we will handle the issue of Scootaloo first." He held up his hoof when Shining opened his mouth, "It will be the quicker of the explanations and the young mare deserves to understand exactly what has happened to her. The questions about my brother can wait a few moments… but let me assure you, he will bring no harm to you.” Faith shot Honesty a dark look. “Because if he is planning something, I’ve already proven to be a heartless killer that can murder his own family.” Trixie and Twilight flinched at that but Faith paid no heed. “Now then... Luna, would you kindly wake the two?"
The goddess of the night's eyes glowed briefly and with a yawn Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash slowly awoke. They looked about in confusion before gasping, their eyes staring down at Scootaloo's metallic coat. Celestia and Twilight, wisely, used their magic to gather up blankets for the two of them, wrapping them around the two shocked mares. Scootaloo burrowed into the blanket, trying to hide as much of herself as possible. Sweetie Belle joined the two on the ground, settling beside Scootaloo so she was flanked by her friend and her idol.
"Scootaloo has been given the rarest of gifts... she has ascended and become the new Abstract of Loyalty." Faith turned and gently placed a hoof upon the orange pegasus' own. "It is ok... I know you are scared but I swear everything is fine... allow us to explain." Scootaloo bravely nodded, her shoulders becoming more firmly set when Sweetie Belle and Rainbow Dash pressed against her, affirming they were still with her. "Brother?"
Honestly cleared his throat, ignoring some of the darker glances that were being sent his way. "Abstracts are the creation of life. When the first living creature willed itself to actually wiggle just a bit, an abstract was born. When prey felt fear of death... an abstract was born. This is the first way that abstracts were created. We gain strength through the beliefs ponies and griffins and all manner of creatures have. The stronger the connection, the more life we have. The less… the weaker we become.
"When an abstract dies, either through a loss of belief or, in the rare cases such as Loyalty, killed by another, a new abstract MUST be brought forth. Our numbers never shrink, only grow. Most times, a new abstract is born to take its place. However, there are times when a creature, be they pony or manticore or donkey, displays an abundance of the needed emotions or concept... and they become an abstract. Their form is lost and they take on a higher calling. This is what has happened to Scootaloo… she displayed an abundance of loyalty and thus whatever power sees us abstracts come into being chose her to join our ranks."
Rainbow wrapped a wing around Scootaloo. "No way... no way is the kid having her body taken away!"
Faith smiled. "If that was going to happen it would have already occurred. No... Scootaloo has kept her body because Loyalty died with a physical form... thus to continue on, she must have one as well."
Scootaloo held up her shiny foreleg. "So... I am still me?"
Honesty nodded. "Correct, my dear mare. Do not be concerned that you will become our lost brother or that your mind will decay like him. You are your own mare with your own thoughts and opinions. How you handle these powers is up to you. All that you are is still there. This is merely... another piece of you."
"Most likely," Faith said, "had Loyalty died without a body you would have never been chosen and a new abstract would have been created. That is how it happened with me."
Twilight frowned, glancing over at red alicorn. "What are you doing?"
Honesty blinked. "Me?"
Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Yes, you. You just made the same face Applejack does when she tells a lie."
"I... well..." Honestly's face twisted and contorted, the words unable to pass through his lips.
Rainbow's eyebrows shot into her maneline. "You did it again! You can't lie so you do AJ's funny face!"
"Yes... yes I do," Honesty said quickly, hoping they would let the subject drop.
"What are you not telling us?" Twilight asked. Honesty squirmed and she leaned in close. "What are you keeping from us! Tell us now! Tell-"
"We weren't born abstracts!" Honesty blurted out.
The cabin grew quiet.
"... what?" Faith whispered.
"We... we were not born abstracts." Honesty gestured towards Scootaloo. "We ascended just like her."
Faith looked at if someone had just told him the sky was pink. "No... no we are abstracts! We have always been abstracts..."
"Have you never wondered why you were so drawn to ponies?" Honesty asked gently. "You have always stayed with them. There were so many other creatures and places to explore but you have stayed here, in Equestria. Your friends are all ponies, save for the baby dragon and the minotaur. Why, when you took physical form, did you end up like you are? Because he felt it natural... like you had been in it before. You took the form of an alicorn because you view it as the definition of strength in the pony race… our race. Have you not thought about why you are so different from others like Doubt? It is because you are.”
Faith rose up, stumbling over his own feet. "I... I would remember..."
"You called him a baby," Celestia said, remembering how Faith had spoken of his family. "Faith, you said your brothers and sisters saw you as a baby... but if abstracts have no forms, how could you be a baby?"
"Abstracts, natural ones, are fully formed, aren't they?" Luna pressed.
Honesty nodded. "You were barely a month old when we ascended…. what being would better express faith than a child? Especially in those dark times, when Discord raged across the lands and so many abstracts withered and died because of the madness he inflicted. So helpless and needed... you believed in those around you and depending on them. Myself, Kindness and you… the last three of our family. Genorosity, Loyalty and Laughter found us and brought us into their family. They became our brother and sisters but… but they were not your blood kin. Kindness is… and so am I.”
Faith was trembling. "This... this isn't true..."
"He can't lie," Shining stated softly. "Honesty, remember?"
"I... I need..."
Celestia nodded to Twilight and Trixie. "Get him so fresh air." The two nodded, standing up and guiding the hyperventilating Faith out of the cabin. The solar princess glared at Honesty, the fury of the sun hidden within the depths of her eyes. "So far you have done little to suggest I should allow you to live."
Honesty shut his eyes. " Believe me, I know. My only defense is that, if I am allowed to live, I will do all I can to help you all... especially you, Scootaloo. Just as my sisters and brother did with me, I would bring you into my family, call you sister and protect and aid you."
The orange mare swallowed. She didn't understand it, but her heart felt like it had broke into a thousand shards when Faith had begun to panic. She had turned towards Honesty, wanting to scream at him for his actions, but she suddenly felt the urge to comfort him, knowing that it had been painful for him to so bluntly reveal Faith's past.
"You sense it, don't you?" Honesty said with a soft smile. "Focus... focus on those thoughts."
Scootaloo did as he asked and the rest of the group gasped as fine orange lines appeared throughout the room. They ran from Scootaloo to all of them, some of them thick as rope, others as delicate as gossamer. Scootaloo reached out and touched one and suddenly saw an image of Spike, all the great moments between the two of them flashing through her mind. When she followed the string she saw that it ended right in Spike's heart, joining other ropes that led to Celestia, Rainbow Dash, Shining, Sweetie Belle, Faith, and Twilight (that one being the thickest of them all).
"You are Loyalty now," Honesty said. "You inspire loyalty in others and you can see how loyalty connects us all. It is a wondrous gift and a terrible burden. In time... if I am allowed... I will show you the wonders of your new abilities."
Rainbow pulled Scootaloo closer and the lines faded away, though all of them sensed that they were not gone at all, only hidden till needed. "It's nice that you know this stuff about Scoots, but that doesn't explain what you are doing here right now. Last I knew, you were telling Applejack to depower the Princesses and to round up ponies and convert them into our drones."
Honestly grimaced. "I admit it was a foolish plan. I see that now. We were blinded by our goal and it cost all... you, this land, and us... greatly."
"What exactly changed your mind?" Luna pressed.
Honesty smiled. "It is as I told my brother... Applejack was my savior." Honesty tilted his head back. "It all began a month ago..."
~MC~MC~MC~
As Honesty began his story, Faith was looking out over the night sky, his eyes glassy and tears having dried upon his cheeks. Twilight and Trixie stood next to him, wanting to tell him so many things but wisely knowing that now was not the right time to do so. Faith had been dragged through the emotional wringer and he needed to work out his issues before the mares tried to make their apologies. Both thought of it as their penance for their foolish acts.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Faith asked finally.
"I'm sure he had his reasons," Twilight reasoned.
Trixie nodded. "Besides, from the sounds of it you were still a baby when you six fought Discord and you were lost. Do you remember a lot before that battle."
Faith grimaced. "No," he admitted. That had been a bitter little pill to swallow; when Twilight had reminded him who he was, Faith had been startled to find that his memories before his abandonment on Equestria were few and far between. He remembered his brothers and sisters and he remembered spending time, helping them spread harmony... but he had always assumed there would be thousands of years of history that he would gain back with the return of his memories. Instead... he had maybe a few months. Nothing about a time before being an abstract.
2000 years bitching and whining... for nothing.
Faith loved pie, but found humble pie was the worst
Twilight draped her wing over him. "Does this change anything, really? I mean, knowing that you were born a pony doesn't really alter who you are now. It’s not like you were 50 years old... Honesty said you were a month old when you became an abstract, so being a pony really didn't shape you."
“And maybe it did… but this just answers all your questions,” Trixie said. “And hey, now you have an excuse for when ponies call you out on stuff! ‘Can’t blame me, I use to be a pony!’”
"This... it is all..."
Trixie got a determined look on her face. "Does Scootaloo being an abstract change who she is? Does Twilight now having wings change her? No! I don't know Scootaloo at all but from what I've seen from you guys she isn't acting any different! And Twilight is still a pony that can't handle me being so amazing and powerful..."
"Thanks, Trixie," Twilight grumped as the showmare played with her white mane. "And clearly being a prisoner has change Trixie from being a egotistical-"
"Ok, ok, I understand," Faith said. "Unless you are going to wrestle for my amusement, please stop fighting." The two shot him twin glares and Faith's smile withered. "Don’t blame me, I use to be a pony.”
Twilight 'hurmpfed'. "Now... are you ready to head back in and hear what Honesty has to say?"
Trixie nodded. "I want to know why we aren't killing him outright. He is responsible for all of this..."
Faith sighed. "Please, just hear him out. I have heard the story and once you do I wager you will be more willing to allow him to give council." The three of them headed back below deck, discussing Honesty and the wisdom of allowing him to remain on the ship.
Had any of them looked up, they would have seen a pair of eyes and a floating set of teeth wearing an unnatural smile floating above them, watching all of the proceeding before letting out a laugh and disappearing from sight.
A minor revelation, nothing ground breaking, but it needed to come out. Faith, Honesty and Kindness were born ponies and were chosen to join Generosity, Loyalty and Laughter as the 6 Elements of Harmony. A minor piece of info but important for understanding the characters.
Next chapter will be a flashback and reveal how Honesty came to his senses and decided to stop helping the rest take over Equestria. We will also soon learn what is going on with the remaining queens, then it is off to Sweet Apple Acres!
I was hoping for honesty's story tis chapt. oh well still good chapter
2135106 So does this mean we still have to fight Queen Applejack or will she surrender and join the cause? And then once that's done who's next?
So Applejack's next to be "saved ?"
This is going to be interesting as I wonder what became of the Apple family in all this madness.
I also wonder who was it that was watching the heroes at the end of the chapter ?
Also despite what happen it seems that Trixie still has some ego problems to overcome in this story...
Plus, nice explaination on Scootaloo's new lifestyle and how protective Rainbow Dash was of her.
I wouldn't still trust Honesty, despite what he said. I do think that he should try to earn the trust of the rebellion, either that or the rebellion maybe setting themselves up for a big fall.
So please do keep up the good work upon such a great tale.
I died. I literally died.
Great exposition chapter. Faith is slowly becoming much more likable. Though I do fear that Twilight is becoming less. Lately she's been getting the shaft, but maybe I'm just being paranoid.
That ending.... Twas brilig... and the slithy toves...
Oh yes, late minor nitpick from the previous chapter, but why do transformation sequences always have to be painful? Just a weird cliche that I never understood.
And you somehow left us on a double cliffhanger. One is Honestly story and the other those eyes, Doubt methinks?
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Why are transformations are usually painful? I guess it has something to with things bursting out of the skin and your gene code all but rewriting itself. It that's not painful than what is? And I see a doctor who reference, to bab he wasn't in there to see it.
gamesprays.com/files/resource_media/preview/pinkie-pie-is-watching-you-forever-5934_preview.jpg
For some reason, I find Queen Pie scarier than Doubtence. Not because Cupcakes, but mostly because I imagine her now like Equestria´s Joker.
Needles to say, your version of Alicorn Twilight is far, far better, than that "Magical Mystery Cure" shit.
Sweet
Random Cheshire Cat FTW
;)
Seriously, Honesty is starting to shape up to fit Thane Krios in terms of voice in this chapter. This was really good, and still there is much to consider. At least Honesty has discovered just what he and his family has done to Equestria.
Btw...
It's "I used to be a pony." You missed a letter there.
Crystals?
Oh God...Laughter is watching...
Who's the Cheshire Cat?
Was that... Sombra at the end?
laughter has no power here, the abundence is not a place or mirth currently, begone abstract you have no buisness there.
laughter's the scariest of the abstracts if you ask me. she even scares the other abstracts for crying out loud!
I will have to write that down for later use... Waait a second! Monolouging? Wat?
If Honesty does the scrunchyface, that proves that he's not whatever you'd call the perversion of honesty!
Now I'm curious to see what Faith will do now... finding out he was a pony before becoming an abstract, and finding out Kindness and Honesty are his biological siblings... but one thing that concerns me, if they were ponies before they became abstracts and named by the other 3 who took them in, what were their birth names?
If you ever stop writing I'll chain you to a table until you write again.
Note by my picture I'm serious.
your work ^^,
2136809
You can chain me to a table any day. Mmmmmmm.
So ether Pinkie/Laughter are like the Cheshire Cat considering Pinkies powers before wouldnt be the biggest surprise (sortenly pleasent) and I do beleaveit takes The Fool to laugh at all things aswell as smiles in the face of change.
monologuing isn't quite the same once you've become the good guy...
great chapter! great revelation there, so are the other "pure" abstracts going to go loco like loyalty did?
2136332
I am still working on it but yes, at some point Faith, Honesty and Kindness' original names will be revealed.
For those curious, Faith was barely a month old when, due to events set in motion by Discord, he, his brother (Honesty was 18 at the time) and Kindness (15 at the time) ascended and became abstracts. Honesty and Kindness remember their pass life but Faith only has echoes (such as his hatred for Discord, which is why he helped the other elements against the commands of his brothers and sisters).
2137139
Pure abstracts tend to be more extreme then pony-elevated ones... but there are always exceptions. Honesty and Kindness forgot much of what it was like to be a pony, while there are pure abstracts that can learn to have more emotions and understanding.
2137159
Here's hoping Kindness comes back to her senses and redeems herself... tragic enough to kill an adopted family relative, but a blood relative that's just too tragic...
2135149
If you're literally dead, how did you post that?
2137503
I'm a priest. Self-resurrection, noob.
Is this story and Faith and Doubt gonna have the TwiliCorn tag?
2135178I think Pinkie is going to be the hardest one yet.
I used to be a pony but then I took an ascension to my being, right Faith?
Ah well, on to the chapter. There is at least a nice explanation for Scootaloo becoming an abstract (and alicorn too) and Faith returned from just grieving to grieving and coping at the end of the chapter.
There is one little thing nagging me: With the creation of so many alicorns in such a short time, will there be a 'alicorn 101: How to be a goddess?' class soon following? It would create nice and easy fun, at least.
I see Twilight and Trixie at least are making amends at being civil towards each other around Faith. I also see mending broken bonds from Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash. I grinned at Faith's outburst.
I wonder how Honestys story will work out - what horror has happened to snap Applejack out of her ways? What did she do with her work? Why didn't she come with Honesty if only to show a friendly face to Twilight? What actually happened at Sweet Apple Acres? Who is the milkman? Wait, scratch that last line, I channeled a bit too much Boyd there.
The ominous looking eyes actually most likely belong to Pinkie Pie. If you count all the crazy stuff that pony was able to do BEFORE she got godlike-alicorn powers such as flight or magic, imagine the horror she can fathom with them! She already dragged Twilight into a dream and that was when she was far away. What happens if that queen comes closer?
As for the comparison to Joker: Does anyone here remember Emperor Joker? The crazy, reality-bending version of him who actually killed the Batman over and over? Now THIS is the Pinkie I'm fearing...Cupcakes is nothing compared to that.
Lastly, are we going to get some odd jokes about being honest coming from Honesty? Or Skyrim-related memes for Faith? Or are these just exceptions here in this chapter?
2138197
Scootaloo is NOT an alicorn... this will be covered, but she is an abstract and a pegasus
2138197
As for Pinkie, no one has hit upon yet what has inspired her alicorn-personality... but there has been a hint.
I sense a Twilicorn rant in this...
2138455
Ah, well, that at least keeps things fresh.
2138482 PFFT the cheshire cat! It's so obvious!
fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/173/9/6/cheshire_cat_by_kmilazaoldyeck-d54esh2.jpg
A tit for a tat, imagine that! All of this ruckus over a cat!
Excellent chapter with some interesting backstory. Kudos.
2138482 I call the Flanders' Reflanducation process, from one of the simpsons treehouse of horror!
"and if a smile did not do it, i reccomend a good, warm glass of milk, and a frontal lobotomy"
Nice to see an expanding backstory for some of the abstracts and for abstracts in general.
Dear sweet mercy, we got ourselves a crazy Queen Pinkamena spying on them. And, somehow I actually saw Scootaloo as the new Loyalty...I don't know how, it was just a random idea that I had imagined happening, but dang if that wasn't lucky. As for the story, I can't wait to see how Honesty regained his senses.
C&Cs:
...which came on the heels of several move long, stressful days...
> Replaced 'move' with 'more'.
Genorosity, Loyalty and Laughter found us and brought us into their family.
> Should be 'Generosity'.
its funny as i was reading this a thought popped into my brain
SPYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Gotta say, this story is absolutely epic.
Of course, listening to the soundtrack for the game "Star Wars Republic Commando" just makes it even more epic.
At one point in time, you could download the soundtrack for free from the game's website, but the developers took the site down. Luckily, a fan backed up the files, and you can find them here.
Great story. I don't know what ealse to say... Other then the fact this story is great not insane...
skinit.com/assets/seo/jumbo_shot/jumbo_shot24618767/cheshire-cat-grin.jpg
Ok, that clears that up.
2135106
Oh good. I was half afraid that the Loyalty/AJ subplot was going to become a Noodle Incident.
Also, are you going to explain the whole "Golden Eyes" thing, or was that just Loyalty's power seeking out a new wielder?
2135441
Oh dear Faust, Sombra is an Aspect!
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I can almost see the story's epilog now. Faith yelling at Discord's statue. Telling Discord that he, an abstract who was "Discorded" for 2000 years, must have been quite an achievement for him. Taunting him about how half the Elements who defeated him were only there as a direct result of his own actions. And all around basically venting.
...and then Discord talks back, leading us either into the opening of Keep Calm and Flutter On, or Discord picking up a Waltzing Matilda and off to see the world.
Oh hi Ion and Parallax.
Blueballed for the flashback again! This better be good if you're making us wait this long...
8623997
No. Worse.