Harmonia

Each of the Houses had their own castle in the middle of Bardigrand, each citadel an architectural marvel in its own right, and each built around a central castle called the Beacon – named so because it was a beacon of hope, unity and order in Harmonia. Its massive spires, glorious arches and expansive garden formed the home of the Keepers and contained the office of the Constant who oversaw them.

There was a crowd of ponies before the bridge that led into the Beacon, most of whom were holding cameras for pictures and television alike. They were swarming before the end of the bridge, with a line of ponies in steel plate armour keeping the crowd from progressing any further. Many of the journalists were standing in front of their own television crew, speaking into a microphone and out to their viewers.

The crowd started to part as an autocarriage trundled its way towards the bridge. The vehicle was built like a horse-drawn carriage, made from a rich dark wood and gilded with gold, but nopony was pulling the reins. Instead, there was a circular red crystal at the front of the carriage, a magical sensor that guided the carriage along its route. The carriage pushed itself down the road, slowly stopping at the front of the bridge as the crowd circled around it.

Quartz Cloud looked out the window of the carriage, nervously murmuring, “Impressive crowd.”

“Are you surprised?”

Cloud turned back to the other pegasus in the carriage, sitting upon the red velvet seats. His father had a sky-blue coat and a white, swept-back mane. His face was lined with wrinkles and he had a tight smile on his snout.

“Somewhat.” Cloud admitted. “I don’t remember Diamondsong having quite as many cameras on her.”

“Diamond’s ascension was fairly ordinary, all things considered. You’re special.” Lord Crystalus told him, his voice dry and reedy. “You’re the first male Keeper in eighty years, and the first who’s come from a violent profession.”

Cloud’s frown deepened. “I worked with the Bronze Guard, not for them. And I’d hardly call it a ‘violent’ job.”

“There are many who would.” Crystalus said flatly. “The point is that ponies don’t know what to expect from you, which is precisely what makes this first impression so important.” The elder stallion’s gaze narrowed at him critically. “Now, do you remember the speech we gave you?”

“After reciting it so many times, I don’t think I could forget it.” Cloud replied. “I still don’t see what was wrong with mine.”

“It had the right message, but the wording was… well, let’s just say that wordsmithing is not one of your talents, Quartz.” Crystalus said, in a tone that was supposed to be sympathetic, but instead sounded demeaning.

There was a knock at the carriage door, prompting Cloud’s attention. The guards had parted the crowd so as to form a path directly towards the bridge, and standing outside the carriage was a gold-yellow earth pony with a dark orange mane tied into two, braided pigtails. She sported a red neckerchief, a dozen freckles, and a confident smile on her face. Cloud recognised her on sight – Sunshine Heart, Keeper of Plenty.

Cloud turned to his father and said tersely, “I much prefer ‘Cloud’.”

With that, he stepped out of the autocarriage and into the sunlight. Immediately, he was assailed by the shouting of journalists and the flashing of cameras. He winced.

“Ah, just ignore ‘em.” Sunshine told him, her thick southern drawl cutting through the din. “They just wan’cha to look their way fer a photograph. Come along, now.”

“Right.” Cloud said quietly, still overwhelmed.

He followed her down the path towards a set of stairs, up which was a podium bearing the insignias of the Six Houses. Beyond that was the bridge that led over to the Beacon. A mere thirty, fifty feet away.

Trotting beside him, Sunshine chuckled. “Hoo, boy. Y’all really are shakin’ like a bag full of mice, ain’tcha?”

Cloud blinked, then turned to her. “I’m sorry?”

The cowmare smirked. “Y’all look scared.”

“Oh!” He laughed nervously. “I… apologise. I guess that I’m still coming to grips with all of this.”

“Yeah, Ah get ya.” Sunshine nodded. “Firs’ time Ah walked up this road, I was scared right outta mah skull. Ain’t exactly how ya’ll pictured it, innit?”

“I can’t say. I’ve never really thought about being a Keeper.”

At that, Sunshine laughed again. A hearty, amused laugh. “Nice try, mister Quartz Cloud, but I think ya’ll forgot about mah divine gift.”

Cloud looked down at the smirking mare. He had forgotten. He remembered Shimmerlight’s mastery over magic and Lightning Streak’s control over weather, because such effects were both powerful and noticeable. Sunshine’s divine gift was more subtle – she knew when other ponies- were lying.

“…You got me.” Cloud admitted with a chuckle. “I’ve fantasized about this, yes, but I never took them very seriously.” They were at the bottom of the steps now. “I always figured that by the time Dia stepped down, I’d be far too old for the job.”

“Yeah, I hear ya.” Sunshine nodded. Her smile slipped somewhat. “Shame that she left, I’ll tell ya. Did ya’ll know her that well?”

“Not as well as I should’ve, if I’m honest.” He replied. “I was surprised to hear she resigned, though. She was the ambitious sort, not the type that’d simply up and leave.”

“Yeah, took us all by surprise.” Sunshine shrugged. “Left without as much as a goodbye, she did.”

Cloud frowned as they walked up the steps to the podium, thinking to himself.

“Ah, well. Can’t change what’s been done!” Sunshine said brightly, stepping to the side of the podium. “Crowd’s a-waitin’, greenhorn.”

The silver-grey pegasus stepped in front of the podium, facing the sea of cameras and microphones before him. They quietened, and Cloud felt a surge of nervousness build within him. He did his best to swallow it before speaking into the microphone before him.

“I…” He hesitated, cleared his throat, then chuckled. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’ve never done this before.”

The crowd laughed a little bit. He felt a little more at ease.

Cloud tried again. “I… will like to first say a few words regarding my sister, Diamondsong, one of the greatest Keepers of House Sympathy, in my opinion.” He said to the crowd. “She was – and is – a clever, concise and charitable pony, who never stopped to think before helping someone or giving aid to those who needed it. We… did not speak much, I will admit. She was always working on some kind of project, and I had my duties working with the Bronze Guard. Neither of us really had the time to talk with one another.

“But I watched her. We all watched her evolve into the gracious, sympathetic mare we remember her to be. We watched her defeat the Nightmare and seal away Khaos. We saw her open the Amethyst Museum, establish the Silver Lining charity, and we admired her as she put aside her own needs to help those less fortunate than her every step of the way.” Cloud paused to catch his breath. “I know that many of you want to know why she chose to step down, and I’m afraid I can’t indulge you. I have been told that her reasons were personal, and that she didn’t wish to have them disclosed.

“I know that many of you are doubtful as to how well I’ll ‘measure up’ to her.” Cloud said. “I am as well. I cannot outshine her achievements. We all know that.” He took a deep breath, then straightened himself. “But what I can promise is that I won’t let her down. I won’t let Harmonia down. I will do everything in my power to ensure that we can live safe, peaceful lives, free from the monsters of the Dark. Because that is what I stand for. I stand for the same things that House Sympathy stands for – charity, compassion, and, of course, community.”

He smiled at the crowd and nodded to let them know that he was done. A chorus of hooves clapping against each other followed. He straightened his back and tried to make himself look as presentable as possible.

Behind him, Sunshine smiled and clapped with the crowd, trying to keep her face pleasant and happy despite her feeling of unease.

He hadn’t spoken a single lie during that entire speech.

“…Key?”

Key-Tap looked up from the papers she was reading with a jolt. Firewall was standing in the doorway, staring at her.

“Oh… hey, Firewall.” She muttered, standing up from the fold-out table. “Uh… don’t mind all this.” She gestured wildly at piles of documents stacked precariously on the plastic surface. “This is just… research.”

“Research?” Firewall said worriedly, stepping into the kitchen with her.

“Yeah.” Key ran a hoof through her mane, trying to straighten it out to no avail. “On, like, the Keepers. Turns out they’re like Bronzies, where they legally can’t be prosecuted if they’re on the job.” She trotted over to the fridge and opened it. “I’ve been looking at the laws since this morning, but they’re so dense, I don’t…”

“Key, I said that I’d take your shift today because I wanted you to relax!” Firewall protested.

“Not until I’ve found something!” Key snapped, a little angrier than she meant it to be. “There has to be something, anything that can help us! I can’t stop until I find it!”

Firewall looked between his marefriend and the stacks of papers sitting on the table. “Okay… but even if we find something, we’ll need a lawyer. And… Key, we just don’t have the money.”

Key pulled out an un-branded glass bottle of soda from the fridge, holding the top by her teeth and saying, somewhat muffled, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I’ll work ten jobs if I have to.”

She put the bottle on the counter, gripping the bottle-cap with her teeth and, with her strong equine jaw, tearing it off and spitting it to the side somewhere. She brought the glass to her lips and drank from it heartily. She put it back on the counter with a sigh, then noticed that Firewall was still staring at her.

“Uh… it’s home-brand stuff. From Magimart.” She explained. “Tastes like… pure cancer-water, but at least it doesn’t have Bubblegum’s face staring at me.”

“Key…”

“Have you noticed that? How she just plasters her face on anything with sugar in it?” Key rambled.

“Key.”

Key stopped talking, noticing something off about Firewall’s tone. When she met his eyes, he looked away, an uneasy expression on his face.

“…What?” Key asked him, somewhat fearfully. “What’s wrong?”

“…Key, listen…” Firewall said slowly. “I’ve… I’ve been thinking.”

He went quiet, still not looking at her. Anxiously, Key prodded him. “…About?”

“I…” He winced, still looking away. This time, it was Key-Tap who was looking concerned for him.

“…Firewall, you can tell me.” Key said softly. “What is it?”

Firewall swallowed. “…Gods, there’s no good way of saying this.” He glanced at her briefly, then returned to staring intently at the wall. “…I think we should just take the money.”

Key-Tap stared at him.

“Just- before you argue, I- I just don’t think we can do anything.” Firewall told her. “I mean, we’re talking about fighting House Joy, Key. It’s… it’s insane.”

Key-Tap kept staring at him.

“Even if we can afford a lawyer, they can afford ones that are better and tougher. You’ve seen how nobles can stretch court cases over years – they can do the same thing! I…” Firewall sighed. “…I think it’ll hurt us, if we fight it. And I don’t want to see you any more…”

Slowly, Key walked past him.

“…hurt than you already… Key?”

She marched straight towards the door, almost running as she flung it open.

“Key, wait!”

Ignoring him, she disappeared outside and slammed the door shut behind her.

Firewall started to pursue her, then stopped. Staring at the door, he sighed hopelessly and ran a hoof through his mane in worry.

Behind him, the documents scattered to the floor.