The Founders of Harmony

Founders of Harmony

Book 1: World of Chaos

Chapter 4: The Council Augeas

The Council of Augeas was formed roughly twenty years ago. The population had become too numerous, with too many factions who’s needs and interests conflicted. Master Nebula knew a more formalized government would be needed to keep the city functioning and to keep it a secret. So the Council was formed with five members selected by the largest guilds that represented the vast majority of the city’s populace.

Ebony Rose now sat in the Council’s meeting room, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. The blanket covered basket in her lap feeling heavier with each passing moment. Her palms perspired more than usual inside her gloves, as they rested atop it. She breathed in deeply through her nostrils, heart pounding, barely maintaining her calm veneer. Nebula placed a reassuring hand on Ebony’s arm. She said nothing, but Ebony’s heart calmed. Feeling a bit better she looked up at the other members of the council, assembled about the round, stone hewn table.

Directly to her right was Boulder Buster, an aged Unicorn who’s once bright viridian fur had lost much of its vibrance, now a faded green. What hadn’t changed was his abnormally large ears and his uncanny ability to place them against a cavern wall to determine the best path to dig. He had been with Nebula decades ago when they first found some crumbling ruins of a long vanished subterranean species, deep in a mountain cave. But Boulder’s ears, combined with his mastery of controlled explosion magic, uncovered deep, ancient paths leading to the cavernous halls which became the city of Augeas. He led the Mason’s Guild, who’s operations in the following decades uncovered more caverns, converted into makeshift farmland to feed the swelling population. The guild also spearheaded construction of the city’s wagon road system and tended to the structural maintenance of the city in general.

After Boulder was Silver Spade, the middle aged Earth Pony who led the Farmer’s Guild. A stocky, brown furred Earth Pony with an almost metallic silver mane tied back into a neat bun. She had a more elegantly shaped head and face that looked almost mismatched on her body. It started wider, housing her bright inquisitive eyes, then narrowed to a rather petite muzzle usually only seen in Unicorns.

Under Nebula’s tutelage, Silver Spade had mastered the craft of swapping genes between different plant and vegetable species as described in an ancient book. She crossbred many different plants so that potatoes, lettuce, carrots and more could be grown in relative abundance underground with little to no sunlight. Her greatest, and by far most difficult accomplishment was alongside Nebula. After ten years of work they discovered a way to mix the genes of other plants with mushrooms. Using this knowledge they were able to create a new mushroom species that grew five feet tall, with a trunk about a foot thick, and who’s cap grew several feet in diameter. The caps could be cut and shaved to become a leather like clothing or pages for books. Their trunks, thick like a tree, could be used for construction.

Opposite the table from Silver Spade, wearing a striking rainbow half cape over a yellow tunic and trousers that matched her golden mane, and contrasted pleasantly with her bright teal fur, was the Pegasus Threadbare. She had personally crafted every piece of her attire, and its extravagance was matched only by the complex mural of scratches, scars and calluses on her hands, which nearly obscured the rainbow thread moving through the eye of a cracked needle that was her Cutie Mark. She’d collected the scars mastering several crafts and becoming respectable at all the rest. She had learned from all the artisans in Augeas over the years and earned their respect. This led to her being chosen as representative for the Artisan’s Guild on the council. The guild that looked after the well being of blacksmiths, tailors, carpenters, glassworkers, bakers and all the rest.

A few of her scars could also be found on her narrow, elegantly curving face that resembled a wind blown cloud. Her mane was short but curvy and slicked back with some kind of oil. But all this could not distract from her narrow and furtive eyes. Along with her small, soft smile, she had the look of parent bemusedly entertaining the naive question of a child with. Or it was the look of a predator in nature, prey backed into a corner, savoring the moment before the kill. Or it could simply be the look of a curious pony who learned by carefully observing the work of others. It could any of these, or none. No one could say, for she gave the same look to everyone, in every situation, in whatever mood she was in.

Lock Jawed and brow eternally furrowed, his once cherry red fur now rusty, with white mane and tail cropped short was General Phalanx. A Unicorn who was second in age only to Nebula. He commanded the guard of the city and still took a part in the training of recruits. Strict, and uncompromising, he would accept nothing less than each volunteer’s best. Like Threadbare, Phalanx had a long, narrow face, but his was sharp, and angular, as though cut from stone. This made it appear as though he was constantly furious at everything and everyone. But his ire had only one source, the other Unicorn who was now entering the room.

With a horn twice as long as any other Unicorn, behind which sat a surprisingly simple gold crown atop a short black mane; King Quartz levitated his chair into the room, planting himself at the table opposite Nebula. Appearing to be structurally sound but with enough black and blue markings to betray the decay within; Ebony often thought Quartz resembled a rotting potato. The resplendent purple robe he worse only drew attention to just how much the color of his own purple fur had faded. Fur that now bulged with excess fat. Face puffy and eyes watery. But his chubby arms hid well kept muscles, and his drooping face was a mask concealing his cunning intellect. Nebula had once told Ebony that there was no one she acted friendlier towards, and trusted less.

No one on the council liked Quartz, and the General loathed him. King Quartz had been the first to retreat during the final battle. Phalanx had also seen that the day was lost, but there had been a plan, which, if followed properly, would have allowed many more ponies to escape. But Quartz had forgone the plan and withdrawn all his most loyal troops, later claiming he misinterpreted commands and was devastated by the needless loss of so many good Ponies.

The council was not fooled, and they would never have given him a seat and a vote among them, if somehow half the Unicorns did not still hold their king in divine reverence. But they did, and they demanded that the one appointed by the gods be on the council to voice their interests.

Ebony cursed him under her breath. The image of her friends, sliced to pieces by Manticore claws, still haunted her nightmares. But Karma had kept tally of Quartz’s debts. Years after the battle, Quartz had his first and only child, a daughter. But one day their hideout was discovered, and in the chaos of the escape Quartz lost the child and his legs. Though he’d been through a dozen “queens” since, he remained unable to sire another heir. Ebony did feel sorry for the lost princess, she hadn’t asked to be born to such filth. At least none others had been born with such a fate thrust upon them.

“Oh your grace!” General Phalanx said scathingly, the sarcasm practically sparking off his horn. “We are honored that you granted our request for an audience,”

“I’ve no time for your childish goading Phalanx,” Quartz spat, “My duties keep me quite busy, I can’t be expected to be punctual for every little meeting,”

“Well as a tactician, I’ve learned the value of punctuality and organization, but based on what I’ve seen of your timing I doubt you can even finish at the right time and place to produce and heir,”

“Enough! Nebula, why on earth are we having a meeting so suddenly?” Quartz demanded. Nebula rose and began to speak.

“Worry not Quartz, this matter is of the utmost importance. Everyone, I’d like to introduce Ebony Rose, an old student of mine. She and her family live out in the wild as one of our frontier reconnaissance posts and, well...it's probably best if you just show them dear,” Nebula finished looking at Ebony who gulped, and stood up. Horning glowing, she relinquished the basket, removing the cover as it floated to the center of the table.

There was an audible assortment of small gasps and puzzled grunts as they beheld its contents. A vibrant and picturesque assortment of fruits and vegetables, the likes of which none of them had seen before. Bright, blood red tomatoes that could barely fit in one’s hand. Cucumbers greener than grass that were as long and thick as the general’s aged but muscular forearms. Ears of corn with an almost golden sheen, and karrots so large you could fix them to lances meant to fell bears and Manticores.

“Sweet mother of earth, did ya grow these?” Silver Spade asked in awe as Ebony set the basket between Spade and Boulder, letting them take a few pieces.

“Yes we grow them in our home underground,” Ebony said passing the basket around the whole table.

“How’d yah grow em this big without sunlight?” Silver Spade asked, eyes exploding with amazement before taking a hearty bite from an onion bigger than the tomatoes.

“A new light crystal spell?” Phalanx asked. The ponies had devised many uses for the abundance of crystals found in the sanctuary and surrounding tunnels. A Unicorn could use a simple spell to provide illumination or store the smoke from a fire. They had even managed to capture some sunlight within them, but not remotely enough to even dream of producing crops of this quality.

“Actually, it was my daughter Celestia, she’s a Unicorn, and a few years ago, when she got her Cutie Mark she…” Ebony looked to Nebula who nodded in reassurance. “She discovered she was able to create a mostly self sustaining, miniature...sun,” at this, Quartz exploded with laughter.

“What’s this hoof crust? You actually expect us to believe that?” he said rolling a half eaten apple across the table.

Two fists slammed down on the table.

“By the earth itself Quartz!” Phalanx growled, “Do you really think Master Nebula would have brought miss Rose here if she hadn’t already confirmed the validity of this claim?”

“Even Master Nebula with all her great achievements hasn’t woven a spell that could create a sun. Now you expect me to believe some freshly marked filly can create such a thing from instinct?” Quartz retorted.

“Well,” Threadbare said calmly, her voice airy, marvelling at an ear of corn she had to hold in both hands, “It is said that the Alicorns of old once held mastery over the cycles of day and night itself, and we are their offspring, however diminished, its not entirely implausible that a young Unicorn could be born with with such an extraordinary talent,”

“Yes but still-” Quartz began.

“Miss Rose, when do we meet your daughter?” Boulder Buster asked, speaking for the first time, “I assume you brought her with ya to the city,” his voice was deep and calm, reverberating strangely in the small room like a drip of water from a stalactite echoing through a large cavern.

“Um, yes sir, she’s here,” Ebony said, trying not to look at the thoroughly aggravated Quartz, who detested being so completely ignored.

“And Ebony will bring Celestia tomorrow so she can demonstrate her ability to everyone,” Nebula added, “But it must be early, 3am. I think everyone would agree we must wait before making this information public, until we’re certain of how it will effect the city, no?” Nebula asked warmly, none disagreed.

“Delightful,” Boulder said without a trace of enthusiasm before letting out a long yawn “Now I don’t have to listen to you kids yammer all day,” he got up, “I’ll have my excavators clear out of the new southern cavern tomorrow morning. Will that be enough space Neb?”

“Thank you Boulder, that should be perfect,” Nebula said nodding.

“My pleasure, good day all,” Boulder Buster left the room, all the while Quartz’s fist shook slightly on the armrest of his chair.

*****

Ebony and Nebula walked together through the streets. Ebony still shaky, but while it began as nervousness, upon seeing King Quartz it became anger and sadness.

“Are you alright Rose dear?” Nebula asked, curiously observing Ebony’s stoic face.

“Master,” Ebony said, “I need a drink.”

*****

The Rock Bottom Pub was among the first of such establishments within Augeas. It had existed in one form or another since the city’s founding. Originally it's chairs and tables had been unwanted chunks of stone from the excavation of the city and the digging of new tunnels. As the city became home to more craftsman, those chunks were carved into more recognizable forms. Today it remained one of the most popular pubs in the city. Each evening it bustled with ponies looking to unwind after a hard day’s work. But now, early in the afternoon, it was sparsely populated.

“Master, I have a stupid question,” Ebony Rose asked before finishing off her third glass of Whisky.

“Oh my, that’ll be your last drink then,” Master Nebula took a sip from her wine glass, “I know I taught you that there’s no such thing as a foolish question.”

“Fair warning all the same,” Ebony stared wistfully into her empty glass, cheeks starting to match her scarlet mane. “What da you think would happen. If one morning. King Quartz was found...murdered in his bed?”

“Ebony Rose!” Nebula was aghast.

“I know, dummmm question,” Ebony put one of the half melted ice cubes in her mouth. “His subjects would blame the council, cry for blood, and lotza ponies would die in riots,”

“A...reasonable prediction,” Nebula said cautiously, while subtly casting a sound damping spell around them. Her eyes darting around for any potential eavesdroppers. The last thing she needed was rumor of Master Nebula discussing Quartz’s murder with anyone.

“Soooo,” Ebony crunched the ice cube in her jaw. “What iffff one morning, they found he’d just, passed in the night? His fat heart finally giving up on him?”

“Well-” Nebula began.

“Would they like, get a new king?” Ebony interrupted Nebula, putting the second ice cube in her mouth. “Or would the dolts finally give it up?”

Nebula remained silent, deciding to let whatever had overtaken Ebony to simply run its course.

“I thought about it alot...killing Quartz...back when Bolt and I still lived here,” Ebony did not crunch the second ice cube, but turned it around in her mouth like it was helping her think. “I wanted ta sneek in one night and slit his throat. Buuuuuut that woulda been bad. I’d hafta make it look NATChural. Sum kinda slow poison, so he’d die asleep,” Ebony stopped momentarily as she was overtaken by a fit of laughter “Too bad I’m shit at potions!” Ebony turned to Nebula with a sarcastic half smile. “But I did it!” Ebony crunched the second ice cube “I made tha poison!” Ebony whispered triumphantly, anxious horror creeping onto Nebula’s face. “Tried it on a reeeeL live rat! Six hours laterrrrr. Dead rat,”

“Ebony. Dear. we should head ba-”

“But how would I get inta his Liddle palace? Invisible spell? I can’t do that! Sneak in as a servant? Maybeee. I even thought I about pretendin ta be one of his breeding sows,” Ebony chuckled “Now that was dumm idea! Especially with theeze.” Ebony pulled of her gloves, revealing her bare, furrless hands, webbed with a maze of red burn scars. “Fucker...allllll hissss fault!”

Nebula’s further attempts to sooth her were muffled by the crackle of memories sparking to life. Memories surging through her mind like wildfire across a plane of dry grass. Memories forever branded upon her hands.

.Chapter 4 End.