Elben Tränen - The Tears of the Elf Ponies

Under cover of night, Schänder was brought to Ponyville. The Elf Pony refused to look at the stars or moon, either staring forward or looking over the side of the chariot Celestia was delivering her on. She had been so wrapped up in the ugly memories of darker days that she had forgotten how beautiful the world was. Bats flitted around the chariot, curious but cautious. Reaching out with her limb, she caught one, being as gentle as possible as she drew it close to examine it.

"Schänder, let the poor beast go..." Celestia's voice made Schänder look up from the squirming bat. Pouting, she released that bat, which flew off hastily to rejoin its family. "You will be on your best behavior for Twilight, won't you?"

For the tenth time, Schänder nodded to that same question. She didn't fault the Princess for being worried; after the incident, even she was having trouble trusting herself.

"Good..." Celestia sighed, looking ahead towards the jagged structure in the distance; the Castle of Friendship. Touching down at it's utmost balcony, Celestia stepped off from the vehicle. Schänder followed closely, keeping right beside her Auntie. This place reminded her of home, back below Canterlot, only emptier, quieter. She preferred it that way, in truth, but she couldn't help but expect something to suddenly and drastically change.

Through the halls, the two walked, before they arrived at a large, open chamber. High above were the roots of a tree, growing from the ceiling. Schänder's eyes widened and her mouth fell open as she gazed at the beautiful sight. Crystallized memories hung from it's many limbs, shimmering with the light of magic. Schänder had seen magic in her life; defensive, supportive and offensive. Never once had she seen magic being used for art like this.

Celestia smiled, giving Schänder a light tap with her wing. The mare blinked and lowered her head to the round table in the center of the room. There, seven chairs sat, all around a large, rounded table. In each chair sat a different pony, except for one, wherein sat a small dragon. Standing off to the side was another pony, who watched Schänder with nervous eyes. All of them stared at her with a mixture of fear and hope, a look Schänder had seen on Celestia's face many times.

She tried to smile, but it probably looked forced. She wasn't used to dealing with others.

"Twilight. Everyone." Celestia lowered her head in greeting. Schänder jumped and rushed to do the same, bowing lower than her Auntie. She wasn't a Princess. She was pretty sure that meant she was supposed to bow lower.

"Celestia, it's great to see you!" The voice was closer than Schänder had expected. When she raised her head, the Alicorn from across the room was in front of them. Schänder jumped, startled, and slammed the ground with her Limbs, propelling her back against the wall. It was as if an invisible force had swiftly pushed her away from the newcomer. A pair of large prints were crushed into the floor, each bearing the unique five-digit appearance of her Limbs.

"Schänder!" Celestia turned, but the Alicorn, presumably Twilight Sparkle, waved her down.

"I must have scared her. Sorry, I got excited and didn't think to announce myself when I teleported." The Princess of Friendship looked down to the prints on the floor, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You were right, Celestia... They do vaguely resemble the claws of Griffons and Dragons. But they don't taper to a point... Why would they be so blunted?"

"They rely on vibration, not sharpness." Celestia answered swiftly, giving Schänder a smile. "This will be a new challenge for you, Twilight. Schänder has never had much social interaction with anypony besides myself in over one-thousand years... I don't believe I did her mind any favors by limiting her so..."

Schänder tilted her head, seeing a sad expression on Celestia's face. Inching back to where she was before, she leaned into the Dawn Princess, melting her worry into a smile. "She's very loving though, once she gets to know you."

Twilight watched, clinical and curious. "She has no Cutie Mark."

This was something Schänder herself had never understood. Celestia had taught her the concept of Cutie Marks, but she had never received one such mark.

"As long as I've known, she's never had one. I've many theories as to why, but no evidence. Perhaps you can find some answers where I failed, Twilight." Celestia put a wing around Schänder, pushing her forward so she was closer to Twilight. "Schänder, meet Twilight Sparkle. She and her friends will be taking care of you from now on. Treat them as you would treat me, as I love them all dearly."

Schänder looked back to Celestia, then to Twilight and her friends. She tilted her head, studying them.

"Awfully quiet, isn't she?" Rarity asked, a little hesitantly.

"Schänder is unable to speak. She has other means of communication." Celestia paused, then chuckled. "You will need help to repair walls and floors, I'm afraid."

Twilight tilted her head in curiosity, but her question was answered before she could ask it.

'Are you afraid of me?'

The words carved themselves into the ground in front of Twilight, who jumped at the sound of cracking stone. She stared down at the words, then looked to Schänder, who was staring back with wide, expectant eyes.

"Why would I be afraid of you? We've only just been introduced." Twilight offered her a smile, one that warmed Schänder's heart. She had never truly grasped friendship; with Celestia it was more akin to a kinship, rather than an ordinary friendship. She took a tentative step towards Twilight and, under the watchful eyes of Celestia, manifested one of her Limbs, holding it palm up to Twilight. This was a ceremony her and Celestia had performed many times; a sign of trust.

"Whoa!" The loud exclamation made Schänder jump again, her head darting over to the table and her Limb vanishing. The rainbow-maned pony hovered off her seat, staring at her Limb, wide eyed. "That was so cool! What was that?"

"Calm down, Rainbow Dash. You're frightening her." Twilight spoke calmly, looking back to Schänder. She had already recovered and was holding her Limb out once more. Twilight had been instructed already on what to do if Schänder did this. Carefully, she placed her hoof flat on the vibrating digit, feeling it tremble under her. The faint hum of it's intense shaking made Twilight's teeth chatter in her skull. Then, it all stopped as the Limb vanished. Twilight's hoof fell the small distance to the ground, landing with a soft click.

"It seems I may take my leave. I know she's in good hands." Celestia smiled and gave Twilight a hug, before looking to Schänder. She opened her wings, the Elf Pony closing the distance, hugging her tightly. Celestia could feel her Limbs, wrapped around her in a loving embrace. It was a special kind of hug; one only Schänder could ever give.

"Be safe, little one. Do not harm anypony else, ever again. Live peacefully, please. For me."

Schänder leaned back, blinking. She recalled her words, spoken to Luna several nights ago. She felt guilt twist her gut, but she nodded, knowing she would break that promise eventually. As Celestia took her leave, Schänder watched from the door to the Map Room, feeling very lonely, suddenly. She started to follow her Auntie, but felt a light tug on her tail.

"You can't, you know..." Twilight said softly, shaking her head. "She brought you here so you would be safe. Everpony here already knows about you and accepts you. You don't need to be alone anymore."

Schänder wasn't sure how to feel. She smiled and nodded, thinking that response appropriate. This time, the smile was more genuine.

"She's really as old as Celestia?" Pinkie Pie was there before Twilight could blink. The pink pony walked around Schänder with a jokingly speculative look on her face. "She looks super young. Not saying Celestia looks old or anything! She's well aged! Like chocolate!" She shouted down the hall, just in case.

"The Princess told me she was subject to experiments. She stopped aging about our age." Twilight pulled Pinkie back with magic. Schänder was slowly backing away from the excitable pony.

"So she's our age then?" Fluttershy drifted over, peering at Schänder from under her hair. She seemed shocked to see a pony just as afraid of things as she was.

"Not exactly..."

"Well what is it? An' what's with them horns? Three of 'em?" Applejack joined in, gathering around.

"Well, you see-"

"Hey, show me that freaky limb thing again!" Rainbow darted in, cutting Twilight off.

"Girls, st-"

"Hello darling, my name is Rarity. A pleasure." Rarity joined the crowd, keeping a polite distance and offering an introduction. She was determined to be civilized, even if the others were acting rowdy.

Schänder's eyes darted from pony to pony, sweat beading on her head. Fluttershy had noticed and was joining with Twilight to try to get the other ponies back, but Rainbow Dash and Applejack were excited about meeting a new friend. This was to say nothing of Pinkie, who Twilight was having to physically and magically restrain.

Something clicked in Schänder, just enough to weaken her restraint. She cried out, a primal sound of fear, her Limbs lashing out from her body. She wanted space. She needed them to go away.

Silence filled the room. There were several Limb prints buried into the walls, and a thin patch of blood on the floor. Flutterhy trembled on the ground, a hoof to a shallow cut on her face. Instantly, the others were there, standing between Schänder and Fluttershy, looking prepared to fight.

The Elf Pony backed away, shaking her head.

She hadn't meant for that to happen. She had already broken her promise. She was dangerous. She killed without meaning to kill. Tears filled her eyes.

She was a monster, wasn't she?

"Schänder, wait!" Twilight shouted as the three-horned pony ran off down the halls, crying. She had no idea where she was going. She wasn't sure if she cared anymore.

~~~

"Two minutes with the Princess's friend, and we scared her away..." Rainbow Dash sighed out as she drifted through the castle halls beside Applejack. "We screwed up, didn't we?"

"Yeah, I feel right awful... I been around Fluttershy enough that I should'a noticed we were pushin' too hard." Applejack agreed with Rainbow, shaking her head. "Think Twilight's mad at us?"

"Probably. But we'll make it up to her by finding... However you say her name, and bringing her back, safe and sound." Rainbow flipped once in the air, getting herself hyped up.

"What makes you so sure she went this way?"

"Huh? I've been following you." Rainbow Dash blinked, looking at Applejack in confusion. Applejack groaned, smacking her face with her hoof.

"Well, ain't that just-" Applejack paused, her ear flicking. Rainbow stopped, staring at Applejack.

"What? Why'd you-"

"Shhh." Applejack closed her eyes, her ear flicking again. "I hear cryin'."

Rainbow perked up instantly. "Which way?" The Pegasus looked braced to fly off without warning, but Applejack grabbed her tail.

"Slow 'n steady, Rainbow. We don't wanna spook her again."

~~~

Schänder sniffed, wiping her eyes. It didn't accomplish much; she was still crying. She looked down at the hallway, her Limbs holding her up in the air by pressing on opposite walls. Schänder liked being up high when she was sad; something about it made her feel... bigger. She watched as Twilight's friends, Rainbow Dash and the one with the hat, passed below. She started to leave, her Limbs crawling her along the walls, but she stopped when she overheard what they were saying.

They were... blaming themselves? But she had hurt their friend; an innocent pony.

Why were they looking for her? They were ready to fight her only minutes before. Schänder decided that these ponies were strange...

The two stopped, talking among themselves. Schänder sniffed again, needing to give her eyes another wipe to clear away tears. When she looked down again, the pair of ponies were looking straight at her, Rainbow's jaw dropped in amazement. They likely hadn't expected to see her floating in the middle of the air.

With a squeaking sound, Schänder pushed off the walls at an angle, launching herself along the hallway with alarming speed. Rainbow followed, flapping furiously to keep up as limb-prints smashed into the walls, accelerating Schänder even more.

"Hey! Stop, alright! We're sorry!" Rainbow shouted, trying to be heard over the sound of cracking stone the walls made when the Limbs struck.

Schänder heard her, but pretended she didn't. They didn't need a friend like her, a violent monster that hurts innocents. The scientists who didn't listen to her had gotten their punishments, but those soldiers had done nothing to her. The one who harmed her had died, but all those others? And now this pony, who had been trying to help her? How could she justify this?

She slammed hard off a wall, throwing herself through one of the large, stained glass windows. She couldn't stay here. She had to run.

Outside, she was met by a sudden wall of magical force, stopping her in her tracks. She nearly screamed, thinking Celestia had come back and knew what she'd done, but the aura wasn't familiar. She looked up to see Twilight, looking down at her from atop the barrier. Suddenly, the energy slowly condensed, wrapping around her. Schänder was forced back into the castle as the bubble grew smaller and smaller.

Twilight, sweating and panting from exertion, flew in the broken window just as Applejack arrived. Rainbow was already hovering in the air around where Schänder was being contained; the bubble stopping it's shrinkage once it reached the walls of the hallway, holding Schänder in.

"There you are..." Twilight said, panting. "We were worried about you."

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Rainbow said through the bubble, landing in front of Twilight. The Princess leaned around her with a slightly amused, slightly irritated expression. "I got overly excited. You're just... so cool!"

Schänder tilted her head. What was cool about being like her? Different, violent, and broken. Not cool.

"Rainbow Dash, it was crowding her that scared her off in the first place. Calm down; you're almost as bad as Pinkie." Twilight chuckled, walking around the Pegasus. "Schänder, Fluttershy is okay. She says she doesn't blame you and to come back."

Schänder felt something stir in her. It was a strange feeling, a small warmth deep in her chest. She lowered her head and placed a hoof there, as if she could feel it physically. When she looked back up, Twilight was walking into the barrier. Schänder took a step back, expecting some kind of punishment, but Twilight did something she hadn't ever expected.

She held out her hoof, exactly as Schänder had with her Limb when they'd been introduced. The mare's smile was genuine and Schänder felt the warmth grow. Gingerly, she made her Limb appear, placing it on top of Twilight's upturned hoof.

"Friends?" Twilight tipped her head down, lifting her eyes to keep eye contact with Schänder.

The Elf Pony hesitated only a second before nodding. She felt tears roll down her cheeks. Her first friend, besides Celestia.

"Good..." With a sigh of relief, Twilight dropped the barrier. "Then let me show you to your room."

~~~

Twilight let out a relieved breath once Schänder was resting peacefully in her chambers. She returned to her own chambers, shutting the door behind her with a flick of magic. She looked to her trembling hoof, trying to shake off the sensation she'd felt in Schänder's presence. She had done well hiding it at the time, but...

She had lied to Schänder's first question; she was, in fact, afraid of her.

Fourty-three soldiers dead in her attempted escape. Countless scientists, killed for making poor choices in experimentation. A burning, violent hatred for Princess Luna. And to top it all off, she was an Elf Pony, a urban legend come to life. Twilight was terrified of Schänder's potential for violence. And yet, when Schänder had agreed to be her friend, Twilight saw eyes not unlike those her other friends had. Shouldn't they be colder; the eyes of a monster?

Twilight lowered her hoof and walked towards her bed, looking over to Spike as he slumbered in the corner. She would need to protect her friends, but not make it obvious to Schänder that she was doing so. To an extent, she would need to trust that the Elf Pony was serious in her deceleration of friendship. Twilight had experience reforming those who knew little of friendship and it's magic, but never had the creature in question been so dangerous. Discord held risks, but he could undo anything he did with a snap of his fingers. Death was far more final.

Flopping onto her bed, Twilight stared up at the ceiling and considered how to build a prison that Schänder would willingly accept.