"No. That's dumb." You wave the whole idea away. "We don't need a leader. We need to start looking out for ourselves and each other more than surviving another day. We have the tools."

New voices raise in confused wonder and a unicorn sat up with a wry grin. Moon Streak is there, Little Arrow right next to her. "I know she isn't lying. I didn't... Make a big deal about it... But I already traded."

Little waves a hoof excitedly. "We swapped." He sticks his tongue at you. "I don't want any kindness though, ew..."

Laughs resound at the child's refusal, but he is bringing up a good point. "Nobody here, not one person, is being forced to learn something they don't want to." You wave to the door down the hallway. "You can always go. You're here because you want to be. But... There's so much here we can figure out, and enjoy. Even if you don't give a hoot about the world as a thing, just for yourself, this is worth it."

Moon Streak nods, brushing back her mane. "She's right. I was skeptical at first too. But even just exchanging a simple trick or two has opened my eyes." She levels a hoof at the others. "Don't knock it 'til you try it. What have you got to lose except stale routines?"

Murmurs spread through the gathering as ponies consider her words. Some still seem hesitant, but you sense momentum growing.

"Well, if you're just handing out tricks, I wouldn't say no to that," says a scruffy pegasus named Dusty. A few other voices chime in agreement.

You smile, glad to see minds opening. "I don't mean to push anyone faster than they're comfortable with. But progress starts with one step." You lift your hoof in emphasis. "Like this."

Setting your hoof back down, you continue gently, "For those interested, choose a virtue that resonates. Reach out and connect to someone who embodies it. Open your hearts, share your gifts. That's where discovery begins."

The large pony grunts. "Look, two things. They're obvious. I don't know why no one here sees the obvious things." He shakes a hoof at you. "First, you said we can do it, but you haven't shown us how. Second, share something with me that'll do something I care about. Two birds, one stone." He raised a brow. "You got it in you?"

You consider the gifts you know quickly. Healing, forcing honesty, big heal over an area... "I think you have some kindness in you."

His expression falls. "You're kidding me. I'm not soft."

"Kindness isn't soft." You raise a hoof gently. "Kindness can be the powerful warrior that is ready to defend an even weaker creature, caring so hard for it they're ready to fight with everything to keep it from being hurt. You want everyone else here to be safe, it's all you talk about."

The large pony considers your words, though his expression remains skeptical.

"Alright, maybe I have a shred of that in me somewhere," he finally admits begrudgingly. "But protecting the weak ain't the same as fixing every sob story that comes begging."

He paces in a circle, thinking. "Still, being ready to throw down for those who need it...I can respect that angle. So what's this gift then?"

You focus, calling on the healing warmth within. "May I?" you ask, extending a hoof tentatively.

The large pony eyes you warily, then nods. You place your hoof on his foreleg. Closing your eyes, you direct a pulse of soothing energy into him. At first he flinches, then blinks in surprise as bruises and aches fade away.

"Huh. Gotta say, that's...something," he rumbles. He flexes, testing his restored leg. "Takes more than that to put me down, but having that bit of extra fight in me when it counts...that could save lives."

He meets your eyes, realization dawning. "You really weren't kidding. This stuff's real, ain't it? You're really saying I could pull a kindness, and still do my thing?"

Around you, the others watch in fascination at this demonstration.

"Alright, color me interested," the large pony declares. "Maybe it is time we got off our haunches and figured this pony magic out. Where do we start?"

You smile, glad to see openness taking root. There will still be much to do, but you've gained a powerful ally this day.

"We start by sharing what we know, and rediscovering what was lost," you say. "Together."

The large pony grins. "Now you're talking my language. Let's get to it!"

A cheer goes up, and you know you've turned the tide. He thumps you in the chest. "That starts with actually showing me. Everyone here has to see it, or we have nothing."

"Right." You hold out a hoof. "Hoof."

"Hoof?" He presses one of his larger hooves to yours. "Now what?"

"Now you wait. I focus on the gift, the feeling of using it. I imagine it as an actual thing, inside." You take a slow breath, working through it as you explain it. "You send it to the other person... along with some of that virtue, like grease, or water on a slide, and let it tumble..."

He yanks his hoof away suddenly. "That felt wierd!" He shakes the hoof as if it had been shocked. "The hell?"

"Does it hurt? It shouldn't..." You smile slyly. "But, if it does, you know how to fix it."

"What?" He looks around for a victim and brings his hoof on a helpless pegasus. "Be healed or whatever!" The best part, perhaps, was that it worked. With his desire to use the gift, it came, and healing energy rushed out into the surprised, but not entirely displeased, pony.

"That shows two things." You raise both hooves. "One, you already have some kindess in you. It's past the part where you can argue, we all saw the proof." Some snickers spread. "Quiet down, it's not a crime to care about people. But I want to remind that gifts are those virtues. They'll work better when you do them in their name, and not work at all the other way around. Throwing healing at someone who really doesn't want it isn't kind. Forcing honesty from others to cover your own lies will make it go stale very quickly."

The large pony looks thoughtful as you explain the deeper nature of the gifts. He glances down at his hoof, then back up.

"I think I'm starting to get it," he rumbles. "These gifts ain't just parlor tricks - they're tied to how we act and who we are. Can't just use 'em any old way and expect things to turn out right."

He smirks wryly. "Reckon I've got some learning and living to do before I'm a proper master of kindness. But now that I've got a taste..."

He turns to the pegasus he inadvertently healed. "No hard feelings? Maybe lay off the hayburgers a bit, eh?" The pegasus chuckles good-naturedly.

Addressing the group, the large pony continues. "We've been bumbling around in the dark, trying to get by. But there's a whole world of understanding we've lost. High time we got to rediscovering it!"

Murmurs of agreement ripple through the gathering. You see faces alight with curiosity and hope. There is so much potential waiting to be unlocked.

"Where do we begin?" asks a young mare eagerly.

"By coming together," you reply with a smile. "None of us have all the answers. But each holds a piece of the puzzle. Share what you know, open your hearts, and let the music guide your hooves."

"Well said!" the large pony cheers. "Now, who's got a trick to trade? I'm itching to see what else is possible!"

The atmosphere is radiant with energy and enthusiasm. You know this is just the start, but an important threshold has been crossed today. The future is uncertain, but brighter than it was this morning. And that alone is cause for hope.

Your mention of music prompts someone to get some lively music filling the room. People bob, wings flap, and horns dance as people move with the first smiles you've seen in the meeting so far.

They seem to be happy, really happy. Perhaps best yet, depending, they're talking about you. Many are the ponies that come up to chat with you.

Some just want to talk, but many want to swap tricks with you. It's rapidly become a wild marketplace of magical tricks. The ponies were not wizards with their Magic, doing whatever they felt like doing.

Gifts came in specific packets, but there were plenty of them worth having.

The first groan of defeat breaks the joyful trading. Eyes turned to see Little Arrow. "I can't learn it..."

Moon pats him on the back gently. "You just said you don't want any kindness."

"But I want that one," he whines out, stomping his hooves in a tantrum. "They can't give it to me."

"What's it do, little guy?" Moon held him with one arm, rocking as he seemed to calm bit by bit.

Little Arrow sniffles, wiping at his eyes with a hoof. "I just think her healing trick is really amazing. I want to help ponies that way too."

He demonstrates by pretending to lay a hoof on an imaginary injured friend. "Make all the ouchies go away!"

Moon Streak ruffles his mane gently. "That does sound really helpful. But remember how she explained it - to use the gifts, you have to feel that virtue strongly."

Little Arrow pouts. "I don't wanna be generous or kind or anything. I just wanna fix ponies!"

Chuckling, Moon nuzzles him affectionately. "I know, I know. We all want the fun parts. But real magic comes from in here." She taps a hoof over his heart.

"How about this - instead of gifts right now, let's just enjoy the music and see what we can learn. There's all kinds of neat tricks being shared!"

Little Arrow considers this, then nods reluctantly. "Okay, fine...ooh, what's that pegasus doing with the bubbles?!"

He scampers off excitedly to investigate, previous disappointment forgotten. Moon Streak smiles and shakes her head. Kids bounce back fast.

She comes over to join you. "Look what you did!"

Moon waves at the room. "You got cheer all over my usually dim and boring pony meetings..." She narrows her eyes at you. "Are you trying to take my place as the laughter pony around here? I'm onto you..."

You give her a shove, laughing all the while. "I'd never. You know that. Oh, wanna swap?"

"I was waiting so long for you to ask." You and her touch hooves to begin the exchanges. She slips secretitive tricks to peer into minds and distract people. "Be careful with that first one, especially. Also... You really do have laughter down, I think."

"I do?" You reclaim your hoof, having shared a few healing tricks in return. "What makes you think that?"

"I've been listening, that's how." Moon rolls her eyes. "And they're talking." She throws her head at the other eager traders. "When you give a gift to someone who isn't feeling it, it's harder, or even impossible, like with Little Arrow."

You direct a hoof at yourself. "It was easy for me?"

"Like turning a faucet on." She made such a motion with her hoof. "The water just splooshed out! Oh! How was it giving me kindness gifts? Was it easy? Also I really really want that honesty one. I will have so much fun getting the truth out of a few people I know..."

She had accepted the gifts easily, and you tell her as much, to her delight. There was still more trading to do with your new friends, starting with Moon's request.

It was in that happy place that you notice something...

Author's Note

This isn't about crowns, it never was. This is about the only thing that matters, friends. Let's get some of those!

Wait, where'd our magical montage go? Well, this is interesting too...

Time to vote! Change, now they note, where applicable, what traits, if any, are sure to come up. Click here 👉https://forms.gle/UYi2j7srAZYuQ9A57

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