Harmonia

Age past, in a long-lost time, ponykind flourished in happiness and splendour in the forests of Harmonia. They played and they frolicked alongside the gryphons, the satyrs and the kelpies, all creatures speaking and laughing as equals.

But this was not to last. The creatures of Harmonia soon became divided, companionship turning into jealousy and joy soon turned to bitterness. Ponykind divided between the earthens, the pegasi and the unicorns, and the other creatures retreated to their lonely kingdoms. With division, came hatred. And with hatred, came the Dark.

The Dark came in like a storm, drawn by the distrust and dislike that pervaded the land. It rolled from the north and covering the land with fearsome beasts and paralysing nightmares. Ponykind hid from the Dark, hiding inside their villages and towns, and their division was further entrenched. The Dark threatened to swallow Harmonia whole – and ponykind with it.

But there was one pony who stood against the Dark. A mare, who had the wings of a pegasus, the magic of a unicorn, and a powerful divine light that pierced through the Dark and its despicable creations. Her magic was borne from six tenants of purity, six ideals of good that kept the Dark at bay. This mare was the Immortal Sun Queen, and with her wisdom and charity, she taught ponykind the power of compassion, of good, and of friendship. With their hearts now filled with holy good, the Dark was repelled and ponykind began to flourish once more.

But the Sun Queen knew that the Dark would return. It would return again and again until all creatures in the world were awoken to the magic of friendship. So she formed the Six Houses, six noble families who would continue to inspire the tenants of community into ponykind and keep the dark at bay. She gave these families divine powers that would help them in their battle against the Dark, against hopelessness and against evil itself.

Today, the Houses are each represented by a Keeper – a single pony from each house who embodies the concepts that each House holds dear. These noble heroines continue to inspire ponykind and fight the madness of the Dark, wherever its influence appears. The Keepers are…

Sunshine Heart, honourable Keeper of House Resolve. By her hard work and honesty, she ensures that ponies have everything they need to survive. Her divine gift allows her to pierce through deceit and trickery, common tools of the Dark.

Bubblegum, the excitable Keeper of House Joy. With her penchant for parties and fun, she makes sure that ponies always see the bright side of life, even it seems far away. Her divine gift allows her to appear wherever she is needed, no matter the distance.

Lightning Streak, the confident Keeper of House Bravery. She inspires ponies to be strong hearted in the face of danger, and to fight back the fear of the Dark. Her divine gift allows her to control rain, storms and wind to keep order in the natural weather.

Purebloom, shy but loving Keeper of House Innocence. She tends to the sanctuaries of nature and protects ponies from the influence of evil. Her divine gift allows her to calm the creatures of the natural world and rid creatures of their fear.

Diamondsong, the beautiful Keeper of House Sympathy. She ensures that everything is shared equally, and that no pony is left behind. Her divine gift allows her to shape gemstone to create works of beauty to be shared and admired by all.

And, of course…

“…Myself, Princess Shimmerlight of House Unity.”

The crowd of foals listened intently, sitting the grass around the figure before them. Taller than the average pony, she had a pristine white coat that seemed to reflect the sunlight itself, two wings folded upon her sides and the image of a crescent moon adorning the sides of her flank. Her mane was black, dancing with little white stars and flowing down her shoulders, with a fringe that partially covered a long, pointed horn jutting from her forehead. Her eyes were bright blue, her smile kind, and she wore a silver crown atop her head with a blue, circular-shaped gem set within it. She was a mare of stark, otherworldly beauty, and all the younglings could do was stare in childish awe.

“When I was younger, I was very withdrawn.” The princess told them softly, lying on her hooves before them. “I spent all day reading and playing alone with my dolls. I never went outside, I never talked to the other children… I didn’t have a single a friend.”

The foals murmured amongst themselves. One of them, a brown-coated colt with straw-yellow hair, held up his hoof and asked nervously, “Were… were you lonely?”

Shimmerlight nodded at the colt, smiling warmly. “Very. But I don’t think I realised how lonely I was until much, much later. My parents noticed, though. They were worried about me, and they wanted me to learn more about friendship and unity so that I would one day be able to take up the mantle of Keeper. So, they sent me to a little town called…” She waves her hoof up and around to weave an air of mystique. “Greengrove.”

The foals were quiet for a moment as they took this in.

“…What’s that?” One of them asked.

Shimmerlight laughed good-naturedly. “Greengrove is a town on the edge of Harmonia, far away from the city, where ponies still worked the farms by hoof and plough, and where the only runicomputer was a single phone to the outside world.” When the foals gasped, she nodded and said, “Yes. Very old-fashioned. But it was a lovely town full of positive, happy ponies. It was a perfect place for me to learn about friendship – and Unity wasn’t the only House that thought so. Because it was in Greengrove that I met the other would-be Keepers… and, by extension, my future friends.”

“Didn’t Lightin’ Streak explode you with lightning?” One of the fillies asked.

Shimmerlight chuckled again, awkwardly this time. “Our first interactions were certainly… intense. But, as we got to know each other, we became a lot closer. We became fast, close friends, and when Greengrove was assailed by the Dark…”

The foals gasped again. One of them, a pink filly with orange hair, leapt up in delight and cried, “Is that when you fighted the Nightmare?”

“Yes, it was!” Shimmerlight replied enthusiastically. “The Nightmare thought that she could cover Harmonia with the Dark, using Greengrove as a starting point. But she didn’t plan on me and my new friends being there to stop her!”

“Did you beat her up?” One of the colts asked excitedly, a black colt with a short, light-blue mane.

“Oh, no, no!” Shimmerlight said quickly. “Violence is the way of the Dark. We defeated her through the magic of our friendship, stripping the Nightmare of her evil and turning her back into a normal pony. Hurting other ponies is never the answer to a problem.”

“…Oh.” The colt looked away dejectedly.

Shimmerlight smiled comfortingly at the colt. “Don’t feel bad. You’re still a child, and you have a lot to learn. That’s why I’m here. That’s why all of us are here.” She slowly stood up, looking over the children with confidence as they looked up to her with wonder. “We’re here to teach all of you how to be best versions of yourselves that you can be. We’re here to teach you how to be honest, compassionate, kind, joyful, brave and generous. But more than all of that… we’re here to teach you all how to unlock the magic of friendship.”

“Alright, everypony! It’s time for the big finale!”

The voice came from a large metal screen, four small gemstones imprinted in each corner and one larger gemstone in the centre. The crystals were lit up, displaying an illusory image of a modest, cottage kitchen. A massive, four-tier chocolate cake sat on the counter of the space, undecorated, and dividing the camera view between the two hosts.

“That’s right! It’s icing time!” Trilled the first host, a unicorn mare with a baby-blue coat, and puffy, sparkly pink hair that bobbed as she leapt up in excitement. A silver necklace with a pink, lollypop-shaped gemstone was adorned around her neck, jangling wildly with her movements. “We’re gonna be using some white fondant for this one, folded over a layer of marzipan, and then decorated with some stars, butterflies and whatever these are!” The unicorn declared, her horn glowing with telekinetic magic to lift each item up in turn. The last item was a bag of tiny gold and silver balls. “This is gonna be the most scrumptious, most delicious cake ever!”

The second host chuckled at the mare’s excitement. He was a stallion with a brown coat and mane, and he said in a much more even tone, “That certainly sounds like an excellent cake, Bubblegum. But I think you’ve forgotten something.”

“What?” Bubblegum, Keeper of Joy, blinked confusedly a couple times, then her eyes lit up with understanding. “Oh!”

With a flash of light and a pop sound, she disappeared from the kitchen.

With another flash and another pop, she re-appeared, this time holding a basket of fruits with her mouth. She placed the basket on the table, turned to camera and said sheepishly, “I forgot the strawberries!”

The two laughed good-naturedly at the Keeper’s absent-mindedness. Chuckling along with them, watching the show from a wooden counter, was a young mare with neither wings nor horn, leaning forward with her forelegs upon the counter. Her coat was a light, sandy brown, and her auburn mane was tied in a ponytail that draped across her shoulders. She let out an amused sigh as she watched, murmuring, “Classic Bubblegum.”

She watched for a little longer, the show following its usual motions. Bubblegum iced the cake, started decorating, then she made a mistake or caused an accident that meant that she had to redo a certain aspect of the cake, which forced her to spend more time as the time limit drew nearer, but she’d figure it out in the end and deliver the cake to the wedding reception before the time was up. Classic Bubblegum.

A large shape moved into the edge of her vision. “Key-Tap.”

Key looked over to her boss, a large black stallion with short-cut white hair and a permanent unfriendly glare – a glare that was currently directed at her.

“Hey, Gran.” She said cheerfully. “What’s up?”

Granite Gaze briefly turned his glare to the television screen she was looking at. “You enjoyin’ yourself there?”

“Oh, yeah, I love this show.” Key-Tap said. “Bubblegum is my favourite Keeper. She’s just adorable.”

“Oh, yeah. Very important.” The scowl turned back to her. “Did you even look at the speaker I told you to look at?”

“Uh… yeah!” Key-Tap replied, nodding. “Yeah, I had a look at it.”

“And?”

“Yeah, the sound rune on that thing is super scuffed.” Key replied, stepping off of the counter. “No matter what I did, it just kept making that high-pitched noise at me. We might have to get a proper runesmith to look at it.”

“Key, I hired you because I don’t want to pay for a runesmith.” Granite growled at her. “Your destiny brand means that you’re good at this stuff. You have to be able to do something.”

Key shrugged, looking at the triangular rune that adorned her flank. “Talent doesn’t mean much if I haven’t had the proper training. I can look at it a bit more, but… I don’t think there’s a whole lot that a hobbyist can do.”

Granite glared at her a bit more for good measure, then he huffed and said, “Fuckin’ Soundsculpt. Take down all the other speakers with the same model number. I’d bet my autocarriage that the same thing will happen to them.”

“Can do.”

Key-Tap worked in a runicomputer shop, selling TV’s, stereos, scrying spheres and a whole bunch of other runic devices. That was her talent, manipulating the magic runes that made the devices work. She had experimented with writing her own runes in the past, but she was in her better element when she was tampering with existing runes. Granite had hired her based on that very talent, and alongside manning the counter and tending to customers, she also acted as the shop’s on-site amateur runesmith.

Key hummed as she worked, listening to the Bubblegum Bakearena as it played in the background. Next week was going to be a live show, and whatever Bubblegum’s challenge would be, she’d have to do it with a live audience. Key was excited for it. Who’d be able to accuse the show of being scripted if there was a countdown timer on screen?

Her shift ended just after midday. It was a solid four hours of work, even if most of it was spent lazing at the counter, watching TV, and she got paid well enough for it. She heard the door open as the next pony came in to take over her shift, along with the squeak of small plastic wheels. She smiled as she turned to see a red unicorn stallion with a short, neatly combed orange mane trot into the shop, pushing a black pram with him.

“Hey, nerd.” She greeted him.

The stallion chuckled. “Hey, Key.”

She had always thought herself lucky to find him. If it had been any other colt who had gotten her pregnant a year out of high school, they would’ve dumped her in an instant and moved onto the next girl. Firewall, however, made it his life’s mission to help her. He got her the job with Granite, he helped her move into an apartment with him, he had done so much to make sure that she wasn’t left floundering. She couldn’t be luckier.

Key-Tap stepped out from the counter and towards her coltfriend, kissing him the instant she was within reach of him. When she drew back, Firewall murmured in embarrassment, “Come on, Key…”

“Relax, Firewall, we’re an item.” Key laughed. She looked inside the pram. “How was Crypto?”

The little bundle of blankets within stirred at the mention of his name, revealing a tiny, yellow unicorn, sound asleep.

“Slept the whole way here.” Firewall replied.

Key leant against him, sighing. “By the Queen, we made a beautiful kid. I know I say that all the time, but we really made a beautiful kid.”

“Mmm.” Firewall nuzzled his head over hers. “You did most of the work.”

Key looked up at him incredulously. “You’ve been running around like a headless chicken since we moved in together. I don’t know how you can say that with a straight face.”

Firewall laughed. “Yeah, yeah… how’s work been?”

“Pretty alright.” Key replied. “Gran’s grumpier than normal, so you might want to steer clear of him for a bit.”

“…Probably doesn’t help that you keep calling him that.”

“Oh, what’s he going to do? Fire me?” Key-Tap laughed. “I’m the only reason he can still call this place Runicomp Buy and Repair.” She took the pram by the handle and started to wheel it around. “Do we need anything from the shops?”

“We’re set.” Firewall replied.

“What’s that? We need more Bubblegum figures for Crypto’s room?”

Firewall chuckled as he took up the front counter. “Crypto does not need any more Bubblegum toys.”

“I think I hear ‘more Bubblegum toys!’” Key sang.

Firewall shook his head as he laughed. “You are spoiling this kid.”

“Hell yeah, I am!” Key said as she pushed the pram out the door. “See you at nine!”

“See you!”

Key-Tap stepped out of the shop and onto the street outside. She smiled as the city of Bardigrand emerged before her. Capital of Harmonia, Bardigrand was a city that had lived for centuries. Even though she just lived in the outer suburbs, she still lived amongst buildings of well-cut stone and marvellous gardens, with roads paved a hundred years ago still looking brand new. In the distance, she could see skyships floating through the air, towers of iron and silver that shone in the sun, and in the centre of the city were the castles of the Six Houses, where the Keepers of Harmonia resided.

Key hummed as she made her way back home. The sky was bright, with not too many clouds blotting out the sun, and there weren’t a lot of ponies around either. She passed by a few pegasi, some unicorns, and a bunch of earth ponies, all engaged in their own lives.

After about three minutes, as she was getting closer to the apartment, Key heard a soft sound from the pram. Looking down, she saw Crypto stirring, blinking his two, large eyes open to look at her.

“Hello, Crypto.” Key said softly. “Did you have a nice nap?”

Crypto stared blankly at her for a moment. Then, his soft, foalish face widened in a smile, and he made a noise of recognition.

“Yes, it’s your mommy!” Key said, leaning into the pram and giving her son a nuzzle, eliciting a giggle from the baby colt. “Hello!”

“Gah!” Crypto chortled. “Gah bah!”

Key giggled with him, pulling back out of the pram. “I was watching Bubblegum earlier. Do you know she’s going to do a live show next week?”

“Bah?”

“Yes, Bubblegum!”

“Bah bah!”

Key shook her head. “Ah… you’ll get it one day. I reckon you’ll love Bubblegum when you’re older. She’s so energetic and full of life, like… I swear, every kid loves her. It’s impossible not to.”

“Bo…” Crypto babbled, looking up at her curiously now.

Key stopped the pram, thinking to herself. “I mean, they’re all pretty great. Shimmerlight does her thing with keeping the Dark away, and Sunshine makes sure that we all have food at the end of the day…” She frowned in thought. “And Purebloom does a lot of conservation work… but she doesn’t have a lot of shows, so I don’t know much about her.” She looked back down at the infant unicorn, her smile returning. “But Bubblegum is just impossible to dislike. Once you’re older, I’m gonna take you to every meet-and-sign, every-”

Pop.

A sudden explosion of force, fabric and warm wetness sent Key stumbling back as something instantly appeared in front of her. She blinked, and then double blinked, and though she probably should have screamed, shock prevented her from making a sound.

Standing before her, in the crimson-stained plastic and cloth that had once been her pram, was the blue-and-pink form of Bubblegum, Keeper of Joy, who was looking back at her with the same look of alarm that Key was currently wearing. She looked dishevelled, her eyes wild, and parts of her cotton-candy mane were dotted with red.

Bubblegum opened her mouth, then closed it.

“Um…” She said hesitantly.

They stared at each other for a moment.

Then, with a flash of light and a pop, Bubblegum disappeared. The red that had stained her mane splattered to the ground.

Key-Tap was frozen, her brain running around in circles trying to make sense of what had just happened. After a moment, she became dimly aware that there was something dripping down her face, and she reached her foreleg up to wipe it off.

She looked at her hoof. It was blood.

“…Crypto?” She said in a horrified whisper.