An Alicorn by Any Other Name

Years ago...

It was a bright, sunny morning; the noon-time sun grasping desperately forward to its peak. It was on this very day that Lady Stratus had brought her prized student, Firefly, to the Time-locked Thicket.

Before them lie a vast, yet tame, woodland. Clear paths ran through the trees, pony-made and preened for visitors. However, the only visitors that they normally got were Royalty, and their chosen companions. Today was no exception.

As the Lady began to walk down a fairly straight-forward path, Firefly followed in kind. Her eyes wandered between the trees. They all seemed...so perfect. Their leaves shone brightly in the sun, and not an imperfection marred their bark. The wind had no influence here, and even the grass unbent under her hooves. It was unnatural, and the young mare found herself wanting nothing more than to rip free a blade of grass and watch it wither. However, she knew this was impossible.

"I know this may be a bit...unsettling, for you, but there is a purpose for this place," Lady Stratus spoke in an understanding tone, "For what you will see here should never be permitted the freedom of time."

Firefly looked up at her regal mentor with curiosity brimming in her eyes, but she knew better than to inquire further. It was her constant questioning that had urged the Lady to bring her here, to somewhere so nearly forbidden it was almost unheard of. But Firefly, she'd found out about it, through diligent research, and inquired further. Hopefully, she would soon understand what was so special about a forest upon which time had no effect.

After a long time walking, along with occasional flights from her mentor over a river and a gap in the land, they came to the center of the thicket. Before them lay a glade, every perfect blade of grass glinting with the tiring afternoon sun. And among those perfect blades, rose the most imperfect of plants.

It was haphazard, and that was to put it lightly. Large and small plants, the occasional tree, some flowers never before seen by ponykind, and some other objects of questionable nature lay before her. Few of the plants looked like plants, but this was a garden, she knew...so they had to be. Had to.

"Welcome to the Discorded Garden, my dear student."

A time had passed, the sun slowly falling towards the horizon as the pair wandered amidst the strange plants. Each one piqued Firefly's curiosity, and begot a response from her older, wiser mentor.

The Gardens were old, as old as the Elements themselves, some said. Each "plant" was actually a manifestation of the chaotic being imprisoned here. It was said this being was akin to a God, which stunned the young mare. How could a God be held captive in a mere garden? She did not have to do more than speak her question aloud before Lady Stratus began to tell her a story.

"Long ago, the Elements were but the simple fruits of the Willow. Though they held great power, few considered the tree of any worth outside of its great beauty. Many ate the fruits of the Great Willow, but few understood its importance. Over time, the ponies, ever-warring between one another for land and prosperity, began to taint the great tree.

The tree, however, was wise, and knew of the taint, and took action to prevent it. It hardened its blessed fruits, sealing their power inside. No longer were travelers able to eat the gifts of the Willow, and though its beauty was great, fewer ponies came to visit as time went on. The warring, however, continued. High above the Willow, in an empty glade, the Chaotic taint began to emerge from the ground. Tendrils twisted, vines lengthened, and strange creatures took form in the mangled branches of the plants that grew there.

The Great Willow knew the danger above it, and let its roots spread, reaching out over the entirety of the forest in which it dwelt. The ponies, however, took no notice of the coming threat, and continued to kill one another for petty reasons, theft and chaos spreading amongst them. The Chaotic taint gripped tighter to the land above the Willow, and a consciousness formed. It took the name of Discord, and with each passing day, it grew stronger.

A wise Unicorn, by the name of Faust, had heard of the strange occurrences in the forest, and had decided to see it for herself. The Chaos of the world was breaking her, and she could not stand to be around those who wanted nothing but pain in others. A long trek before her, she set out to see the Great Willow.

As she arrived, the land appeared dark and broken, directly above the area she knew held the tree. Fearful, she ran down the pony-made path to the Willow, and her eyes widened. The tree pulsated, its fruits vibrating, as dark tendrils of shadow seemed to trace the outline of the line emitted by the ancient tree. Without questioning why, Faust found herself moving towards the Willow, her steps carefully dodging the shadow running like a stream below her.

It was then, upon reaching the tree, that it spoke to her. It said, 'You, of kind and ardent heart. Sincere of intention and charitable love. Your heart wants nothing but joy, and the Spark within you grows with each passing day. Help me, for I cannot help my children without their help as well.'

Taken aback by the crystalline words that tingled through her, Faust could only stare upon the Great Willow as its fruits began to part from its branches, coming to encircle her. Each new fruit filled with with a profound sense of meaning, and once the fifth and final one appeared around her, Faust's eyes began to glow as bright as the Great Willow itself. Her magic sparked, and from her horn, a sixth fruit grew. It encompassed the five others, a perfect, harmonic fusion.

The tree spoke once more, 'These are the Elements of Peace and Harmony. But, without the Magic of my children's Friendship, they are nothing.  May you use them to bring peace to this forest, so tainted by Discord and Chaos, and may you bring their gifts to the World.'"

Lady Stratus looked silently upon a strange, eclectic tree. Her story did not seemed finished, and Firefly grew impatient as the minutes passed.

Firefly spoke up, "So what happened to Faust?"

"Patience, young one. I was simply recalling the day the Elements first spoke to me..." her voice was distant, eyes glazed, and then she looked up.

"Faust, having been given a task by the Willow, set forth to stop the Chaos tainting the land. Wherever she stepped, the land grew lighter, but eventually succumbed to chaos again. She contemplated, and realized that Chaos was not something one could get rid of, only tame. With that in mind, she focused her mind upon the entirety of the tainted land, and thought of the one thing that could stop the spread. Her horn glowed a spectrum of colors as it unleashed a wave of energy over the land, chaotic winds calming in an instant.

As the glow faded, she opened her eyes. The land before her was as it had been, but for the strange plants of Discord. All was frozen in time, not to spread, but always to remain. The Elements swirled around the mare, and she disappeared...only to re-appear with a set of wings, as the first Gifted of Harmony. She would take her gift, as the first Alicorn, and spread it amongst the people. Though some continued warring, most began to accept the Teachings of Harmony. It is because of her that we live as we do today. And Faust's Willow remains a sacred place to our ponies to this day."

Her story ended, the graceful skyborne mare continued to wander between the plants, looking upon each with a delicate eye, observing for the ever-looming threat of change.

Firefly, however, was deep in thought. She was wise beyond her years, almost frighteningly so --- and she had realized the little things that her teacher and mentor would never tell her. And so, she waited. Waited, until her mentor had moved to the other end of the chaotic orchard, as the little glow bugs began their mating dance above the trees. For though the plant-life was frozen in time, still the fauna of Equus roamed free.

She looked up. A single glowing beacon, flickering in and out of existence, made its slow descent into the gardens. Something inside of Firefly...tingled. Urged on by the feeling, she moved betwixt the bushes and plants each time she saw the glow return. Eventually, it settled...upon one of the, admittedly strangest, plants within the garden. A horned rose, vined up the length of a nearly plant, its single bloom a wilted color, but so full of life. The insect upon it began to move, driving Firefly to investigate what could be so intriguing about this plant. And lo and behold, a single, flightless glow bug lay within the petals.

The blossom shifted. It was slight; so slight that it would never be noticed in a standard garden. But in an unmoving orchard, it stood out, and Firefly stepped closer. Her voice seemed to leave her throat as though compelled.

"Discord..." voice frail, she almost lost her courage, but she forced herself to continue, "I know you are still there. I know you are not evil..."

Her voiced wavered, and she took a moment to recall a conversation she had with her mentor some time ago.

'Harmony without chaos is the night sky with no moon,' spoke the alicorn.

'But would not it be the sky without clouds, as chaos is dark and harmony is light?'

'No, my little one,' the elegant voice spoke, 'For there can be no light without darkness, nor darkness without light. Each relies upon the other, lest the world be left in a darkness none can e'er escape. No matter which power reigns, it is always that the lesser one is the moon that watches over and prevents eternal darkness. Chaos is not evil; it is but the only thing that balances the world, lest Harmony deprive us of all that makes us who we are. For Harmony may lead our lives, but Chaos is free will, and borne us. Do not forget this, little one.'

"Discord, I seek your blessing... So many forget...that without you, we wouldn't be free. We wouldn't be...us. I promise...I'll never forget. Though Harmony guides us, you keep us in check, and you give us our freedom. I ask you...f-for your blessing, great God. And I promise, I will never forget you, and will keep you alive beyond this Garden. It may be sacrilege, but...I-I don't believe even chaos should be forgotten. For you made us...made me...and who would I be, without you?"

Her voice shocked her. She never thought she would renounce Harmony, even if she wasn't, in truth. But, to ask for the blessing of a God...what...what could be so wrong in that? Not even her mentor spoke to Discord. He must be so alone. And if something ever happened...he'd...be forgotten forever.

No one deserves to be forgotten...

Right you are, my dear.

Firefly lept backwards, before cursing under her breath, looking around. Her mentor was still inspecting the gardens, off in a distant corner, no doubt. Looking forward, she squinted, the sunlight having nearly faded, and the twilight invading the time-lost sanctum. A little glow bug...a  firefly, she knew from her name-sake, hovered before her. She took some steps back, before it perched upon the tip of her muzzle, and she heard the voice again.

You mortals are so...fleeting. And I have so little time. Little filly, do you mean what you said? Will you remember me, and spread my gift, despite my prison leaving me forgotten in this...wretched, broken forest I have been cursed to spend eternity in?

Stilling her nerves, she crossed her eyes and looked upon the strange little bug, who had been moving as the voice she heard spoke within her mind. She could barely force herself to nod, but that was enough.

The little bug raised its front legs like arms, Oh, magnificent! Oh, little filly, you will not regret this gift you have given me, nor the gift I shall now give you. The meddling alicorn is nearing me, so I must be quick. You have my blessing, filly Firefly. And this is all I ask of you: Don't forget who you are. You are a light in the darkness, the moon in the sky, the Firefly that lights the still twilight and gathers all eyes. You are a leader of people, a Queen amongst peasants. This is your destiny...but if anyone asks, make something up, alright? Silly ponies and their cutie mark games, it sickens me...oh! That must be her, your...'mentor' awaits. Do not forget, little one!

The firefly knelt and kissed her muzzle, and she felt the tingle again, electric through her body. Just as the sky blue alicorn came into view, a spark flashed, and upon the little filly's flank lay a Firefly. Its features were undefined, not but wings around a circular glow...but it almost seemed to shine in the night. Like a little, winged moon.

Pride swelled in the alicorn's chest, as she walked up and crossed necks with the little filly. She looked curiously at her student, nodding her head to her flank, and the filly simply smiled, and said, "I watched the glow bugs fly and meditated on the story you told me...and it reminded me that though I am small, I am not unimportant. I will be a light in the darkness for everyone around me. Everyone will watch me, and I will spread hope..."

She almost stumbled on her next words, but instead silenced herself. It was enough. Her mentor was proud of her, her wing spread over the young filly, as they made their way to the path out of the thicket.

All the while, little Firefly thought of the words of the God, who had spoken to her, of all ponies, for the first time in ages. Pride engulfed her as she trotted beside Lady Stratus, her steps nearly as regal as the alicorn herself. For she knew her destiny now, and all she had to do was reach it.

A light in the darkness, the Chaos that makes Harmony shine brighter...none could ever know, and none would understand. But now, she walked with purpose.

May Chaos give us life, and Harmony guide our ways.