Broken Worlds: A Sea Of Tears

I sighed happily as we drew near the gates of Canterlot, having finally returned home after our crazy adventure. “Guards, open the gates!” I called happily, and the city’s gate slowly cranked upwards. “Marcus Ripley, Tess Moore, Joseph Moore, welcome to Canterlot,” I said cheerfully to my human friends. “This city was built thousands of years ago as one of the very first settlements in Equestria, and is now the capitol of-”

Spike interrupted me by clearing his throat. “Uh, Twilight? I don't think this is the time for a history lesson,” he pointed out gently. I turned around to see that everyone in the group, human and pony alike, was exhausted. Even Marcus, with his physical augmentations and excellent shape, looked like he needed serious recovery.

Cadence trotted up as her visor folded away, a comforting smile on her face. “Don't worry, Twilight,” she said as she wrapped a comforting wing around me, “we'll have plenty of time to give them the grand tour later. For now, we should focus on the mission at hand.” She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “It's been a while since I've stepped through these gates,” she murmured as she proceeded inside the city walls.

I looked back to the others, who were all following close behind except for Tess, Marcus, and Joseph.

“We've had plenty of experience with Equestrians before,” Joseph said slowly, “but are you sure we'll be welcome here?”

“And will we be safe?” Marcus added. “I don't mean to sound selfish, but I'm taking a big risk helping you return to Canterlot like this; BlackTech does not react kindly to betrayal and desertion.”

I nodded. “Canterlot is extremely well-fortified,” I explained proudly. “We have a powerful protective shield that can blanket the entire city in moments in the event of an attack, and its cliffside location makes it difficult for attackers to surround and surprise us.

“As for the welcoming issue, you're being accompanied by a princess! We'll head up to the castle, explain to Princess Celestia why I've brought you here, and get you all settled in.”

“Speaking of settling,” I heard Brave Wind call from the front, “can we get moving? My legs feel like they're made of dry spaghetti after all this walking.”

“For once, we agree on something,” Rainbow Dash replied, and the two exchanged a friendly hoof-bump.

I looked at Fluttershy and Applejack. “How are you two holding up?” I asked gently.

The orange earth pony mare shrugged. “I'm fine, all things considered,” she said cheerfully. “I'm just happy to be out of that prison and back with my friends.”

Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “Nothing is going to separate us again, right Twilight?” she asked hopefully.

I nodded with certainty. “For the first time since before this war began, things are finally starting to look bright,” I said hopefully.

~-~-~-~-~

“...as you can see, Princess, each of these individuals that I have brought before you have been chosen by the Elements of Harmony to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for Equestria,” I explained proudly.

Celestia nodded slowly. ”I see,” she said thoughtfully, “but there are only five individuals here; you're missing one Element, Twilight.”

My face fell. “Well, yes, but I'm sure the final bearer will come to us eventually,” I said hopefully. “After all, myself and the other former bearers were all brought together by chance; I'm sure the last bearer will find us on their own eventually.”

“I've got a feeling I know who the last bearer will be,” I heard Joseph say quietly. “There was this kid, Wayne Douglas, who we met a few days before we were captured. He went off on his own after we broke out.” He looked over at the brown earth pony, Gentle Blade. “Didn't you follow him? What happened?”

Gentle Blade looked upset. “I don't want to talk about it right now,” she responded sadly, glancing at the wound on her foreleg.

Celestia nodded. “I'll spread word throughout the Royal Guard and the Equestrian Army,” she said quickly. “If they come across him, they will deliver him to Canterlot as fast as possible.”

Just then, there was a knock at the door. “Princess Celestia, is something wrong?”

We all turned to see a white haired human standing in the door. He had a concerned expression, and looked quite young; he was clearly an adult, but still had a nervous naive look to him.

Marcus leaped up and tackled the young man. “Everyone get back!” He shouted urgently, “this guy is with BlackTech.”

The man struggled under the supersoldier's grip. “I am not with BlackTech,” he growled angrily. “Not anymore.” I must have been imagining things, but it looked like Marcus was actually having trouble keeping the man pinned, even with his physical augmentation.

Joseph and Tess stepped forward. “I recognize him,” Tess said darkly. “He gave a speech at the BlackTech banquet we infiltrated.”

Joseph nodded. “He’s in good with those bastards,” he said angrily. “We should get rid of him now, while we have the chance.”

Celestia stood up sharply from her throne. “He will not be harmed!” She snapped, her tone bordering on the Royal Canterlot Voice, and she quickly cleared her throat in embarrassment. “Cyrus has defected from BlackTech out of fear for his own safety,” she explained. “He is staying in Canterlot and learning about our world, and at the same time he is teaching me a bit about Earth and informing me of some BlackTech secrets.”

Cyrus nodded, pushing Marcus off of him. “It's true,” he said, catching his breath. “I'm finished with BlackTech and their lies. I see now that you ponies are the ‘good guys’ in this war, and I want to help you in any way I can.”

Joseph let out a derisive laugh. “Like we should trust someone associated with BlackTech? For all we know, he could be a spy.”

Gentle Blade walked up to the man and stared at him scrutinizingly. “Uh, could you please not stand so close to me?” he asked politely, “I have boundary issues.”

Gentle Blade walked around Cyrus and looked him up and down, as if she was studying some new, fascinating creature. “He’s telling the truth,” she said finally.

Joseph raised an eyebrow. “How can you tell?” he asked disbelievingly.

The tan earth pony simply shrugged. “I trust him,” she said plainly.

Tess nodded in agreement. “Come on, Joseph,” she pleaded, “can't you see he's been through a lot?”

Joseph stared at his sister for a long time, before letting out a hopeless sigh. “I know there’s no point in arguing with you,” he said with an exasperated groan.

Tess gave her older brother a sunny smile, not entirely unlike Pinkie Pie would. “Yep!” she replied. “So, Twilight, what’s the plan now?”

I looked at the others in confusion. “I… I brought us here so Princess Celestia could guide us,” I said nervously. “We should be asking her what she needs of us.”

I heard Celestia give an amused chuckle. “Twilight, I think we are beyond my area of expertise at this point in time.” My former teacher stepped down from her throne and proceeded toward us. “New Elements of Harmony, come forward,” she said commandingly.

Joseph, Tess, Marcus, Brave Wind, and Gentle Blade stood in front of Celestia respectfully as she studied them one by one. “Hmm… not the most heroic looking bunch, but that is to be expected; it is quite often that the greatest of heroes come from the humblest of origins.

“I must apologize, however, for I know that you were expecting to be granted the Elements of Harmomy upon your arrival here in Canterlot; I'm afraid I cannot give them to you unless all six of the destined bearers are present and accounted for,” she explained. “You have my word, however, that when your final companion arrives at my doorstep, you shall each be granted the Element that corresponds with your spirit.”

“Alright! I hope you get the Element of Loyalty, Moore; the one I held during my time as a bearer!” Rainbow Dash said excitedly.

Celestia cleared her throat. “I'm afraid that won't be the case, Rainbow Dash,” she said, interrupting the pegasus’ victory cheer. “The Elements are rather sensitive to changes in the magical energies of Equus, and are drastically affected by significant disturbances in those energies. Ever since the Convergence, the Elements of Harmony have been… changed.

“You have detected that they are the ones destined to wield the Elements, Twilight, but due to my greater experience with them, having used all six on multiple occasions in the past, I can tell which of these individuals you have brought here is bound to which Element,” she continued. “Sadly, I cannot directly state which Element you have been chosen by; that must be discovered on your own. I can however, point you in the right direction,” she added, and stepped over to Marcus.

“Your Element is one I myself could have possessed many years ago,” she murmured, a reminiscent gleam shining in her eye as she spoke. “Be sure to use it to guide those in your care.

“The Element you have been chosen to hold will not come easy,” she told Tess apologetically. “You will experience great changes in the weeks to come, both in yourself and the world around you; how you react to them will determine whether you are ready for its power.

“Yours is a great Element, but its cost is also quite severe, I'm afraid,” she told Joseph apologetically. “You must become stronger than you are now; not only in physical prowess, but also in your mind and will. When these aspects of your spirit are focused, you shall gain your Element’s power.”

She stared at Gentle Blade for a long time. “Such a kind heart,” she said softly. “You've been alone for so long, yet you can tell who is worthy of your companionship; you do not associate with those who would seek to harm you, no matter how severely you desire company.

“You, my esteemed member of the Royal Guard,” she said when she approached Brave Wind, “must simply grow up and stop thinking about your own safety,” she said with a hint of humor in her voice. The blue pegasus lowered his head and smiled embarrassedly as the others chuckled. “Twilight Sparkle, I am placing you in charge of the Bearers until their missing member has been found and are capable of using their Elements to defend themselves and fight BlackTech.”

Joseph stepped forward. “Princess Celestia, with all due respect, I have one condition for myself and my sister to use the Elements of Harmony in your name,” he explained.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Indeed?” She inquired.

Joseph nodded. “Our leader, Drayke Blackwood, died for the belief that, if BlackTech and their corrupt ideals were removed from the picture, humans and Equestrians could live together in a united society,” he explained. “We'll gladly help you fight BlackTech, but only if you swear to allow human refugees not affiliated with BlackTech to live in Equestria.”

Celestia nodded thoughtfully. “I was informed of Drayke’s passing not very long ago,” she said sadly. “I helped his Resistance in whatever ways I could, though I couldn't spare many resources. He was a good friend of mine, and I would gladly continue the effort to unify the human and Equestrian ways of life in his honor.”

Tess let out a happy cheer and dashed over to Celestia, wrapping her arms around the solar princess in a warm hug. Celestia looked shocked at first, but after a moment her eyes softened and she placed a wing around the human’s shoulder to return the embrace.

I felt something tap my shoulder, and turned to see Spike standing behind me. “So, now that that's all taken care of, what do we do now?”

I smiled and sighed as I looked out a nearby window. “Well, we've done what we've set out to do; now we just need to wait for the guards to find ‘Wayne’, and then we'll have all six of the Bearers. I guess until then, we can just relax.”

I glanced over at Spike, who was staring at me with an odd expression. “Spike? Is something wrong?”

The teenage dragon shook his head to snap out of his daze. No, nothing's wrong,” he said with forced nonchalance. “Just… thinking. About stuff.”

I nodded, interested. “What kind of 'stuff'?” I inquired hopefully.

Spike shuffled his feet nervously. “I'd…  I'd rather not talk about it with the others around,” he mumbled, discreetly pointing a talon at the others.

I nodded and turned to Princess Celestia. “Excuse us,” I said politely, and she nodded as Spike led me out into the hallway. “Alright, Spike, now you can tell me what’s bothering - huh?” I made a surprised noise when Spike cut me off by wrapping me in a tight hug. “Okay, what gives?” I asked with a laugh, but my amusement vanished when I realized Spike was… crying? “Spike, really, what's the matter?”

My oldest friend wiped his eyes. “I don't know how much longer I could have held this in,” he said softly. “I mean, finally reuniting with Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack finally made me realize what is really at stake in this war; even the ones who make it through are never the same again.”

I nodded sadly and brought him in for another hug. “I know, Spike,” I said gently, “that's why we're fighting; so no one else has to suffer.”

Spike looked at me, tears still welling in his eyes. “I know, but… I don't want you to change,” he explained. “You're my only friend whose personality hasn't been completely changed by this mess; you're all I've got to lose now…” he hugged me tighter than before, burying his face in my neck. I couldn't help but shed a tear myself; Spike had been my rock for most of the war so far, and now I was being reminded that even he had a breaking point.

We stood there silently for a long time before Spike finally let go of me. “Thanks, Twi,” he said quietly.

I nodded. “You don't have to stay strong all the time just for me, you know,” I said gently. “We're supposed to look out for each other; it shouldn't just be one of us doing all the work.”

The purple dragon smiled embarrassedly. “I'm not the one helping Celestia run the kingdom,” he pointed out. “You're more important than I am.”

I rolled my eyes and  gave him another hug. “You're just as important as I am,” I said cheerfully. “I don't know what I'd do without you by my side.”

I felt Spike suddenly grow hot as he blushed. “Uh, I think I left something out by the gate!” He said quickly, and sprinted down the hall without another word.

I smirked. “I wonder what he's so worried about?” I asked myself aloud, and returned to the throne room to see what the others were up to.

~-~-~-~-~

Spike took a deep breath as he exited the castle, suddenly bathed in fresh air. “What's wrong with you?” He growled to himself. “Twilight's your oldest friend, literally since the moment you were born; why is she making you so nervous?”

His mind flashed back to my conversation with Brave Wind several days prior; he was certainthat he didn’t have any romantic feelings for her, so why did his comment have such a lasting effect on him? “You’re just overreacting,” the teenage dragon insisted. “He’s just got you riled up; that’s what he wants! Just relax,” he said, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “You’ve dealt with worse things in the past; uncertain emotions should be a walk in the park.” Spike smiled slightly. “There, feeling better already!”

A guard saluted as he patrolled past. “Hail, Spike!” He greeted dutifully.

“I DON’T HAVE A CRUSH ON TWILIGHT!” He shouted and scurried back inside the castle, leaving the guard confused and disoriented.