"It's so great you guys don't feel upset over what Cheerilee did. What she did was really thoughtless, inconsiderate, and awful. When she promised to protect the foals no matter what, I had no idea she'd try to hurt all of you!" Implored Princess Gaia in an apologetic tone.
The Alicorn was sitting at the same table she had sat around with her friends at her cottage time and again. Now it resided in her 'throne' room (if you called the giant pillow a throne). "She was to protect them from monsters I had no idea she'd try to do that to you!" She appealed submissively.
Twilight hoof-waved, "Fluttershy, forget about it, we know Cheerilee wasn't thinking."
The others smiled and hummed consent like reflections.
"I'm so happy to hear that!" Princess Gaia gave a relieved nod. "When AJ wouldn't go back to sleep like a naughty foal who had too much ice-cream-"
AJ blushed.
"-It helped me realize that I need to change what I was going to be doing if I want a happy world for everyone. My wish isn't powerful enough yet to sustain everypony's body as they enjoy their own paradise forever. And if AJ refused to go back to bed, there could be lots of ponies who could refuse to go back to bed, but aren't mothers either. But I still want everycreature to be happy and to get along. Thanks guys, that really helped out!"
Gaia still hoped that with Lulu and Celly, their combined power would be enough to cast a spell over all of Equestria so that, for example, a tree falling on an unsuspecting foal would only result in a poor dented tree and a perfectly fine foal.
Twilight nodded and smiled. "They're called the Elements of HARMONY for a reason - perhaps more than one reason. They need to BALANCE each other, they aren't meant to be used on their own. We're here to help you, Princess. You shouldn't have tried to do this all on your own."
Trixie happily nodded, remembering the speech Twilight had given her on the subject.
"I just wanted you guys to be happy. And weren't you guys all happy? AJ, well, she got to be with some family that she hadn't been able to be with before." Princess Gaia said respecting her friend's privacy and not giving details.
AJ just nodded silently.
"You all got happiness that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise. It was meant be a GIFT! It wasn't trying to make you prisoners or something. Rarity, you finally got to find your Prince Charming."
"Are you implying I couldn't find Prince Charming on my own?" Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow.
"OH?! OH NO NO NO! NOT AT ALL RARITY! But Blueblood was your first choice and it was so wrong he turned out to be such a spoiled meanie! I wanted you to experience how that night SHOULD HAVE gone."
"... Well, I must say, your version was certainly an improvement over that uncultured brute I met at the Gala. He was just what I wanted."
"And Pinkie Pie, you got a place again where everyone else wanted to party too."
"YEAH! It was all in good fun." Pinkie exclaimed with an enthusiastic nod looking at her Princess' cheerfulness.
"And Twilight, You got to not only be with us and Spike forever, but Princess Celestia too."
"It never occurred to me how much I wanted to be with her as much as I do with you guys. I guess I wanted to eat the cake and have it too."
"And you Trixie, you got what you wanted more than anything: Twilight's life. Being a real hero as opposed to one who has to lie to make herself seem heroic. You want to be the one Celestia chose to guide the rest of us to save the world. An only child who doesn't have to fight for attention. To believe in friendship as strongly as she does."
Twilight startled and looked at Trixie. "Trixie, you envy me?"
"I didn't want to think so. But I was happy. No doubts. No fears. The courage that comes from Celestia herself putting her faith in you. Greatness that no one in a thousand years will be able to brush aside or denigrate."
"Trixie, I'm scared ALL THE TIME of disappointing Celestia. Yes, I'm proud to be her student, but I'm more proud of being a GOOD student for her. And I know you felt like you were drowning in siblings, but I always envied ponies who had family their own age they could turn to I guess that means I envied you. That’s why you were my sister in my paradise."
Trixie looked at Twilight in shock. Normally she would have just turned away, but in Princess Gaia's presence, she didn't feel ashamed and hugged Twilight.
Twilight startled for a second but hugged her back, realizing this was the first time Trixie had initiated any gesture of friendship on her own.
"That's so sweet." Pinkie Pie said, smiling jubilantly at the sight.
"And Rainbow, you not only got to be with Soarin', and join the Wonderbolts, but you and Scootaloo got to go to the Sisterhooves Social like she wanted to so badly."
Rainbow Dash just nodded. She knew Soarin' and Spitfire were a pair (all the magazines said so). And Dash hadn't wanted to risk people asking why Scootaloo's parents weren't there cheering her on by Dash participating with her.
And she had even set hoof in Cloudsdale (no one wanting to believe one of their local heroes had betrayed Equestria for them), hoping to find Scootaloo's parents for her. She hadn't given up quite yet.
"And more importantly Rainbow, didn't I give you what you wanted more than anything?"
~~~
Dashie heard the scream. Looking down, she saw little 'Shy fall from the cloud, unable to spread her wings, too panicked to think.
Dashie didn't hesitate, she abandoned the race, she wouldn't reach her in time, she had to! She needed to go just a bit, faster! And she broke through the barrier, leaving a rainbow shockwave in her wake. She caught her! She saved her! She was a hero!
Fluttershy's cutie mark, three dove feathers, formed later as the near death experience taught her she needed to learn to properly fly, and became the most graceful flyer in Cloudsdale.
Dashie also earned her cutie mark: a rainbow lightning bolt across a shield, symbolizing a hero.
~~~
Rainbow Dash sighed, "Yeah, yeah you did."
Twilight sighed, "Fluttershy. No matter how you dress it up, a desire for blissful ignorance of reality is no less nihilistic than a desire for oblivion. That's not kindness, and that's not who you are in your heart."
"Oh I know now, and thank you! You really helped me with that!" Princess Gaia gave a cheerful nod. "Everyone I bring into my fog: I get to see their dreams and heart of hearts. I see what's troubling ponies and the critters. So I know what they've been through and what they need to succeed. My fantasies are supposed to be a gift , not a prison. Like I said: you guys really showed me I need to change my plans. Now I know what's best for everyone!
"Nearly everypony was happier when they were foals, and those who weren't really deserve to have that fixed up. I've been trying my best to help them, but I can see now I'm gonna need lots of help taking care of all of Equestria by myself. So I guess I won't really be taking care of Equestria by myself after all " She then sighed sadly. "At least for now it seems Twilight. How'd you like a kiss from me and to become one of my Knights?"
"M-m-me?" Twilight blushed. "But if I was anyone's Knight, it would Princess Celestia's!"
"Oh. Okay. That's alright." Princess Gaia just nodded, accepting the answer. "Oh I've been going on and on about my ideas so much that I haven't even bothered to ask YOUR opinions! I'm so sorry! So what do you think of the Everfree Forest now? Tell me the truth, I really want to know what you think."
"I can't say it’s NOT an improvement in any shape or form myself," Rarity said.
"Less hazardous for traveling show ponies, that's for sure," Trixie said.
"Could you have made it any more girly?" Rainbow Dash asked lowly.
"Yes, but I didn't want to waste everyone's time putting pink bows on all the parasprites." Princess Gaia nodded. "But I could get somepony on it right away if it means that much to you!"
Rainbow Dash groaned, smacking a hoof to her forehead in frustration.
"I thought it wasn't all that bad. But couldn't you have invented a candy tree while you were at it?" Pinkie Pie asked. "I don't think that'll ruin everyone's farms like AJ said the chocolate rain would."
"I'll be sure to get right on that." Princess Gaia nodded calmly.
"It ain't THAT MUCH different from how the rest of Equestria is really. Except for a handful of details." Applejack said honestly.
Princess Gaia had asked for an honest answer. Twilight gave her an honest answer. "Fluttershy, you can't go completely changing an ecosystem like this so fast! Bugs and runtime errors always show up in untested systems!"
The golden yellow Alicorn's wings and ears wilted slightly. "But if I waited to do all that, then more animals would have died from eating each other."
"Fluttershy! Animals DEVELOPED intelligence from the arms race between predators and prey! That conflict is what gave birth to what would evolve into reason! Trees don't think because they've never evolved the need to!"
"Trees feel." The Alicorn offered to the unicorn meekly.
Twilight decided not to debate that point. "But they don't think! Fluttershy, animals' need to adapt, it’s what helps them improve themselves. You know animals better than anyone. How can you not know this?"
Princess Gaia remembered the cruel world she was shown.
"Because I'm stupid." The golden Alicorn's head lowered so much her horn tapped the top of the table.
Rarity slammed her hoof on the table making the tea-set rattle. "Fluttershy! You are NOT stupid! And I shall not tolerate you calling yourself that again!"
The golden Alicorn blushed and sweat-dropped, letting out a small, mousy, embarrassed laugh. "Sorry, I guess I let the power go to my head."
+++
The Dance Club exploded in a massive display of fireworks, much to the cheer of the foals of the fog covered Ponyville.
The demolition foals had done a surprisingly fast and efficient job, finding equipment just their size, and all the foals felt it was a good idea to stand VERY FAR AWAY from the place filled with bad booze, bad pictures, and music that wasn't very respectful to mares.
Even the owners of the place cheered at its destruction and readily began talking about building a playground in its place. The local carpenter colts were already drawing up blueprints.
One colt was jumping with joy so much as he tripped and fell, badly skinning his knee. He began to cry. At once several of the foals around him began to comfort him. It didn't matter if they knew him personally or not, he was family to them.
The filly Little Redheart felt medical knowledge pour back into her brain in an instant as she got a band-aid and disinfectant and cleaned then dressed the small scrap. Then the knowledge, having served its purpose, submerged again leaving only a filly who could enjoy life without heavy burdens.
A little unicorn filly named Sparkler who had taken part in the Sisterhooves Social stood outside Ditzy Doo's house. Sparkler turned down offers to play with the others. And the pink and yellow birds and bunnies let Sparkler be after a few tries. "Please? Ditzy? Dinky? Won't you please come out? I don't care if it's to be our Knight, mama, or sister. Just please be with us?"
She felt that Dinky wanted to come out, but Ditzy wouldn't let her. She didn't feel upset with Ditzy over that, after all, mamas knew best.
She didn't cry, because she knew it would be mean to cry and make Ditzy feel guilty about staying inside.
Meanwhile, a black earth pony colt played ball with some pegasi and unicorns. He had a silver ring that might have meant to go around the neck but now was more like a hula-hoop. The ring had a black onyx.
The earth pony remembered his parents telling him that unicorns and pegasi were mean, but they didn't seem to be all that bad to him.
Normally Onyx Tiara would be scared his parents would be upset with him seeing him play with the 'feather dusters' and 'narwhals' but he didn't feel afraid anymore.
A small purple dragon with butterfly wings and armor acted as referee.
Spike was more than a little upset with the tease of his dream and Fluttershy had apologized for that. In exchange she had offered him a kiss and freakin' knighthood!
Spike absolutely hated the butterfly wings that came with the fancy platinum suit of armor; but he remembered how Rarity had loved her own gossamer wings and that ladies loved a guy in uniform. Rarity was sure to be impressed with SIR Spike of Princess Gaia!
He had to admit, he thought Princess Gaia's idea was creepy at first, but the brats weren't nearly as bad as he thought they'd be, and he'd take 'childhood that never ended' over 'night that never ended' any day, night or other rotation of the planet. Princess Gaia had offered to make him a fully adult dragon, but he wanted to see if the armor and wings won over Rarity first.
And now all the ponies were looking up to him!
Of course the Number Two assistant had to get in on the act! Owlowiscious had given Fluttershy a much sterner talking to than Spike had, but had stopped when he saw how he was hurting the poor vision of the Alicorn.
Sir Owlowiscious insisted he simply wanted to be as effective for Twilight Sparkle as possible, not trying to oneup Sir Spike. And he was sure his new improvements would aid Twilight greatly. Though the butterfly wings were going to take some getting used to.
He hoped it didn't cause conflict of interest, but Princess Gaia promised him that she would de-knight him if Twilight insisted that she couldn't have the knight of another goddess in her service.
+++
"Okay, I've personally spoken with everypony my fog's touched. And I'll speak to everypony my fog touches from now on. Thanks for showing me dreams by themselves won't be enough to keep everyone happy."
"Fluttershy if you COMMAND someone to be happy or like you, then they aren't really happy or really liking you." Twilight said. "If you just reprogram them then you make them no better than dolls!"
"A white rose is still a white rose even if you paint it red," Pinkie Pie said simply.
Princess Gaia shook her head.
"I didn't order anypony to love me. If they respond positively to me. That's because they respond positively to love.
"I haven't reprogrammed anyone. If they love me, it's because they respond to the love I give them when we speak. Only a pony who didn't want to be loved wouldn't respond. If they're happy, it's because they want to be.
"I didn't erase anyone's memories, anything they forgot they WANTED to forget.
"I don't command any of them to be happy. Even with my dreams, I only provide them with what they wish to be happy. I didn't command anypony to love me. I only showed them that I loved them. I didn't order anyone to do anything, I only asked.
"I'll admit the dreams were meant as a surprise gift. But I never forced anything. I only wanted the chance to offer. The only 'command' I ever gave was not to be afraid, to be happy."
'A pony who doesn't want to be loved.' AJ remembered Mitta.
+++
The foals that had been nearly the entire population of Ponyville marched with smiles on their faces, colored rings for eyes.
They were gonna be the first foals to tour the Everkind Forest and at the end get to play in Princess Gaia's private amusement park! Mama Princess Gaia said it was her way of saying 'thank you' for accepting her gifts.
Mary Mare led the march with Ravey next to her. With Little Mac and Apple Smith bringing up the rear.
The Knights and Sparkler stayed behind in case Pip and his family or Ditzy changed their minds and came out to play. But it was only a hop, skip, and a jump to the Everkind Forest, and they were in sight in case something went wrong in between the town and forest.
The foals slowed down to watch a flock of white and pink sunbirds fly overhead. They giggled at a white and blond sunbird that flew chaotically behind the rest like it was still learning how to fly.
They didn't watch the flock take roost on one of Ponyville's roofs behind them.
But they did hear a mare's singing. All the foals slowed to a stop. The song held a simplicity to it, no guile or real force behind it, it simply was.
The song vibrated with something in their very bones. They all listened. If daybreak could be listened to, they all agreed as only foals could that this is what it would sound like.
Reminding them of when they had met their best friend or when they had shared nuzzles with a sibling. It made Apple Smith think of the first time she danced.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Isn't the world a lovely place?
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Everywhere you go, a smiling face!
Running and skipping; merrily tripping
Watching the morning unfold
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
What does the future hold?
~
Diamond Tiara turned her head, hearing a voice as warm as a summer breeze and as beautiful as a sunrise. It was so far away, but something inside her stirred.
It made her think of that trip she had taken with both her parents to Manehatten before things had gone bad for her family.
Something inside her she had never known was there mutely called back.
'IGNORE IT!' Boomed the voice so hard she fell off her hooves, her ears ringing drowning out the song of gentle but not smothering or restraining love. 'ONLY BAD LITTLE FILLIES WHO DON'T CARE THAT THEIR MOTHER STAYS SICK FOREVER LISTEN TO THAT SONG! IGNORE IT! YOU ARE NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT OR PAY ANY ATTENTION TO IT AT ALL!!!'
Shaking all over, Diamond Tiara obediently resumed her course.
~
Sunny and pleasant
Everyday is a present
No sign of trouble in sight
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
May all your days be bright
May all your days be bright
The foals blinked and looked around, their eyes still big and innocent but no longer looking like colored rings.
"Hey everypony! What's that to your right-?!" All the foals looked that way. "I meant your other right!" Everypony looked the other way. "Oh silly me! It was nothing."
The foals all looked in front of them again. "Whao. You're pretty." Mary Mare said.
"Thank you." Said a white earth pony with a pink mane and blue eyes. Her cutie was three smiley face suns. She was older than any of them by only a few years, just enough to give her an air of guidance without the distance of adults. "Hello ponies! Do you wanna play with me?"
The foals looked at each other, wondering where this newcomer had come from. But she sure seemed friendly enough.
Mary Mare spoke for the group, kind of unsure. "Un, we'd love to, but mama Princess Gaia kinda promised us a field trip through Everkind Forest and we get to be first in line to her new fun park!"
A lot of foals cheered at that last one.
Sunny Day winked at Mary Mare.
"Oh, I'm sure she won't mind if you take the time to make a couple new friends first. I'm Sunny Day! Nice to meet all of you! Can you please all tell me your names?"
"Well, I'm Mary Mare, this is my best friend Ravvey, and this-"
"Have everyone introduce themselves please." Sunny Day interrupted still smiling. A playful gleam in her eyes. "It's so much fun to introduce yourself instead of having someone else do it."
Mary Mare looked at the herd behind her, but foals were nothing if not undaunted. "Okay."
Well over an hour later (maybe more so!) the herd of foals had all introduced themselves all personally to the marginally older filly. Finally, Apple Smith and her shared a nuzzle (Sunny Day didn't mind shaking hooves but she said she had seen too many stuffy adults do it). And that was the last of the herd.
"And it's wonderful to personally meet each and every one of you!" Sunny Day declared sounding more delighted than any pony had a right to be. "AND! There's somepony I want you all to meet too! He's a member of my family and I love him very much, but he has trouble around other ponies. Come out now dear."
Like a male version of Fluttershy, a timid white unicorn with a blond mane came out of his hiding place behind Sunny Day, had he been there this whole time? He must have been really good at other ponies not noticing him. His cutie mark was a crayon drawing of a compass rose.
Looking scared stiff by all the ponies looking at him, "H-hi, I'm Blueblood, PRINCE-PRINCE Blueblood!" The colt said quickly looking like leaving out his title would earn him a ruler to his flanks.
"I've never heard of a Prince-Prince Blueblood! Nice to meet you!" Said Apple Smith looking at the small foal who looked outright terrified of her. "Wanna play?"
"What? No I can't!-I mean," The white unicorn colt stammered.
Sunny Day leaned down next to her relative and whispered, "It's okay, you can play with them."
Blueblood looked at Sunny Day distraught, a look of longing and fear in his eyes. "But my instructors say I'm not allowed to play with other ponies." The white unicorn said sadly.
"Well today's an exception!" Sunny Day revealed to him.
The white colt looked shocked, then jumped for joy clapping his four hooves together at the same time going "WHOOPEE!"
Before he could land Apple Smith tackled him to the ground. Sunny Day produced some balls of various sizes and colors and patterns from somewhere. "CATCH THEM IF YOU CAN!" She tossed them, the Pegasi tried to catch them all at once, but the balls moved with a life of their own to prevent such an easy win!
The foggy yet sunny field outside of Ponyville was soon filled with the laughter of foals, and Sunny Day's as well.
'I told him today, he just needed to lead a charge into today's problems to earn people's love and admiration. And bringing along the guards who he had refused to give vacation time to to make sure he didn't get hurt along the way, of course.'
++++
"Gotcha!" "No I gotcha!" "I gotcha both!" "Mercy! I surrender!"
Four white pegasus ponies with crayon drawn cutie marks jumped on Celestia's personal royal bed having a pillow fight. Four suits of golden armor clearly too big for them lay laid neatly in a corner.
Making sure they didn't break anything too expensive was a lesser aspect of the princess of the night herself, mostly resembling herself when she had been first cured of her insanity, the rest of her power was busy elsewhere.
Luna took a sip of coffee, the time being very early 'morning' to her. The noise of the four wild foals gave her a headache. Luna grumbled,
"Celly, you die for this."
+++
"But Fluttershy, you haven't answered the most important questions." Twilight asked.
"Yeah! Can I have Cloudsdale renamed in my honor?"
"That wasn't the question, Rainbow."
"Oh."
"Fluttershy, what HAPPENED to you that could have caused, this to happen? Ponies don't just turn into Alicorn's! And second: Why? Why all of this? You've NEVER been this forceful before."
Princess Gaia blushed. "Uh, well, that is, you see it was just, it was kinda -"
"Fluttershy, spit it out!" Rainbow Dash snapped.
"WhenIsawalltheanimalsinEverfreeeatingeachotherandtheirmommies
IfeltreallyreallysadforthemandIwantedtomake
everythingfairandsomethinghappenedandthenexthingIknewIcouldfixthings and " Princess Gaia crossed her forehooves daintily. "I was just being more assertive like you guys all said I should be."
Hooves clopped to forehead, four of them. Trixie was feeling her 'mare left out' status again.
"Fluttershy dear, you surely understand there's a difference between being assertive and being, er." Rarity struggled for a polite word. "Impulsive."
"You might want to turn things down a little bit. You really should send out the invitations and ask permission first before setting up a party in someone else's house."
"Fluttershy, I've gotta say this new you rocks, even if I think you've really overdone the girly stuff."
And Trixie was stuck realizing she was the seventh wheel again. She hadn't known Fluttershy besides the polite pony who had barely known her except through bad hearsay from her own friends and had offered her friendship anyway. She was like a Saint of the Age Before Discord in the flesh.
Twilight sighed.
"Fluttershy, I can really tell you didn't mean any harm, and I don't think anyone is going to complain about Everfree not being dangerous anymore. But you likely worried a lot of parents with Cheerilee taking all the foals to the dream field. And I don't think the Princesses will really like you doing this kind of landscaping in their backyard without permission."
"That's why I need you Twilight! You know Princess Celestia better than anyone, and you're really the only pony who knows Princess Luna that I'm friends with! You're going to help me with what I'm going to say to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia! I know I'm gonna mess it up if I try to speak on my own, so I'm really going to need your help."
"And what do you want to tell her?" The others leaned in, their curiosity stretched taunt.
"How I'm going to explain everything I've done for Equestria for her! Oh and Princess Luna too of course! I'm sure they'll love having another Alicorn to talk with! But I'm worried they'll think I'm trying to take Equestria away from them or something! I don't think they'll mind me looking after Everkind and the other wild places while they still rule over day and night. I know they'll love the gifts I've given all our little ponies. But I'm worried they'll think I'm trying to make myself the only Alicorn or something! And with all our magic I know we can really fix Equestria like they couldn't with two Alicorns."
"You you want me to help you write your petition to joining the pantheon?!"
"I, er, um, that is yes?"
Smiling wide, Twilight brought her hooves on the table, leaning in close to Princess Gaia, which made the golden alicorn inch away. "I'll get started right away, Princess Gaia! All we have to do is show Princess Celestia that you're still you, and everything will be fine!"
Pinkie Pie was happy Fluttershy was still her cute little self who'd blush at everything.
Rainbow Dash was happy Fluttershy apparently had something good happen to her rather than something bad because Dashie hadn't noticed something.
Rarity had to admit, Fluttershy was more beautiful than ever now, Rarity just hoped she was up to her ultimate self-challenge of designing a dress for a meeting of the gods.
Twilight was happy to put her talents to use for one of her friends and go all out.
Trixie wondered if Fluttershy could get her a command performance with one of the Royal Pony Sisters. Hey! She was a showpony after all and had to pay her grocery bills!
AJ sighed contently. There was no deceit in Fluttershy's eyes, no deception in her body language, no duplicity in her words. She was simply Fluttershy, Princess Gaia; honest, straight forward, kind, and open to everyone. The girl had clearly, like she said, just let the power to go to her head a little bit, thankfully they were all here to set her straight and now everything was going to work out perfectly with their new Princess Gaia on the block.
*Following lyrics to the tune of this song.*
Everything seems fine, doesn't it?
After all, you can see through lies
The path before you seems well lit
There seems to be no falsehood in her eyes
Her face seems so very bright
If she's happy, let her be free of woe
Everything just seems so right
But do you really think that's so?
AJ looked around trying to figure out the source of the singing, the voice was familiar, vaguely, but she couldn't pin it down.
"Hey gals, ya all hear that?"
"Hear what?" Pinkie Pie asked innocently. The others shook their heads together.
"Er, never mind." AJ said. Must have been her imagination. If Pinkie Pie of all ponies hadn't heard it, that's all it must be.
If you think everything's fine, what is there to do?
After all, you can't be deceived
If anyone can see a lie being told, it's you.
And why shouldn't she be believed?
Has she ever lied that you can tell?
Fluttershy lie? She's not up to the task!
You should know, you know her so well
But what if she's hiding under a mask?
AJ startled, she KNEW she had heard that this time! But the others continued to chat with Princess Gaia like they had heard nothing.
If all is as it seems to be
Then why not see it is so?
Just take a look and see.
Isn't it best to know?
You have nothing to lose from being sure
But if you don't look, a price she may pay.
Is that something you'd be able to endure?
Don't you owe it to her to make sure she's okay?
Huh? How'd that make sense? AJ had been looking at her this entire time! She had looked her in the eyes several times already. Those pretty, beautiful, honest, pure eyes.
You can see through lies with a look
But while appearances may seem so right
For a fool you can still be took
Concentrate now with all your might
Look closer and you just might see
She is just wearing a happy mask
When things aren't what they appear to be
Finding the truth can be a difficult task
Look closer? What was there to see closer? And AJ didn't know about trusting voices only she could hear and could just be herself going crazy.
Look closer and you can tell
That perhaps something is wrong you can't see
Perhaps your friend isn't so well.
But you're looking only at what appears to be
Look now beneath how things appear!
See the mask that is blocking your way!
Or risk losing ones you hold so dear!
Is that a price you want to pay?!
What detail was she overlooking? If it was so important, why was the voice trying to make her figure it out for herself singing?! What tiny detail was she missing? What one detail was she ignoring?
Or maybe, she was thinking too much like Rarity.
Maybe the draconequus wasn't in the details, but in plain sight?
Or maybe it wasn't what she couldn't see maybe it was what she was assuming was there because she couldn't see it.
You whose eyes can burn through lies don't waste this chance
Now let your eyes become the lance that'll pierce this mask!
Realization hit Applejack like a ton of bricks. There wasn't just no fog of confusion or deceit in Princess Gaia's eyes. There wasn't any truth either behind the non-existent fog either.
'I'm as dumb as mud. I couldn't see the orchard through the apple trees!'
"Fluttershy, stop this here right now!" AJ slammed a hoof down.
Everypony looked at her.
"Stop what Applejack?" Princess Gaia asked in a beautiful, but worried voice. Her friends as one looked worried for her too.
"Stop this dang show and show us! If you're really Fluttershy!"
"It is me Applejack, I swear! I know we've never been that close but-"
"How can we be sure yer tellin' the truth if yer not even being really honest with us?!"
Princess Gaia shuddered, looking on the verge of tears.
"Please Applejack, don't, I beg you."
Pinkie Pie looked at her too in confusion, dismay and pain, having flashbacks. Something about this seemed so familiar.
"AJ STOP! You're hurting her!" RD Snarled protectively.
Rarity spoke up. "APPLEJACK! I've had just about enough of this-"
"SHOW US THE TRUTH 'PRINCESS!'"
She whispered sadly. "Sometimes a lie is easier to take. You don't want to see the truth."
When all the truth does is make your heart ache, sometimes a lie is easier to take.
"NO! Yer dang right it's easier! But-Ah ain't gonna be frickin' coward-like and hide from the truth! NEVER AGAIN!"
"I'm I'm not lying " A fearful and scared Pegasus wrapped up in an Alicorn blanket squeaked out. A soft sound like cracks spreading through glass began to resonate through the room, causing everypony to look around in confusion, except for Applejack, who continued staring right at Princess Gaia.
"AH AIN'T SAY YE’RE LYIN'! YA ARE A LIE!"
Horror, shock, and despair flashed on the face of the scared and hurt foal in the trappings of a goddess.
Cracks began spreading through the image before them, like a painting on glass. A tear slid down Princess Gaia's face before the image completely shattered. The tear hit the floor, being the only part of the image that wasn't an illusion.
It was like waking up to a nightmare.
Nothing about the castle changed in the least, except perhaps for some dried and fresh blood stains on the castle stones.
And outside Angel felt the overwhelming urge to make sure none of the servants entered the royal chambers no matter what.
It was the size of an Ursa Minor. The entire chamber trembled as it moved.
Stained dragon claws dragged along the floor, the noise like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Gossamer wings the size of grand ship sails showed patterns of ponies in fetal positions.
It had a faded and dirty yellow natural coat, on its flanks was a cutie mark of three blue winged Butterflies with pink bodies.
A long pink tail moved behind it, roped together in thick cords that twitched more like muscle than tail hair, small lilies dotted along it.
Lean but dense muscle covered it's legs and neck.
It's mane was corded and dotted with flowers like its tail, covering one eye.
It's torso was still that of a pony, the neck was a fraction longer. Permanent tear stains marked it's face. A glowing blue eye looked out from an almost skeletal face. An impressive spiral unicorn horn stuck out from a bleeding wound in it's forehead.
Heavy shackles were sealed around her ankles, with spikes pointed inward into her bleeding flesh. Another inverted spiked shackle was around her neck. Each shackle joined to a long chain that connected to the center of it's chest.
Her chest was a blackened, burned mess, leaving only an open rib cage, with a red orb at the center with something inside they couldn't make out. It looked like the edges of the blackness were constantly being remade and destroyed, neither gaining or losing ground, only trapped in an endless cycle of living and dying.
She moved like every breath, every motion was pain. Her body was covered in sweat. Every breath was knives into her, every heartbeat fire through her veins.
Her great head lowered if in shame.
"Nightmare Whisper - Kindest of Lies."
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Music used in chapter:
“Find the Truth”: Balto 2, Wolf Quest- Who You Really Are
“You ARE a Lie” Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica Ending Theme