Harmonic Treeby Shadow WatcherChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 1Harmonic Tree The fallen leaves tell a story. The great Tree of Harmony was shattered, in Equestria. Across the sea. The Land of Harmony. Now the Princesses of Day and Night are nowhere to be found. On the Blackest Eve, Cadence, the Princess of Love, was the first to perish. Soon the Princesses Pillars, champions all, claimed the shards of the Tree of Harmony. The mad taint of their newfound power triggered the Shattering, a war from which no Bearers emerged. War leading to the abandonment of Harmony. Arise now, ye Shunned! You ignored who still strive towards Friendship. Chrysalis, Queen of the Badlands. The ever brilliant Starlight. Ditzy Doo, the Forlorn Mother. The Foresworn Knight. And Sunburst, the All-Knowing Scholar. And one other, whom grace would again bless. A Shunned of no renown. Cross the sea, to the Land of Harmony, to stand before the Harmonic Tree. She awoke in a small, dimly lit chapel, the air thick with the smell of salt, seaweed, and fish. Her stomach churned, unable to distinguish between hunger and nausea. After weeks of sailing, the small vessel she had used finally gave up the ghost, sinking just off the coast. And forcing her to swim to shore. Now, after years of aimless wandering, she once again stood upon the land of her birth. Equestria. The Land of Harmony. She barely made it out the door before the last remaining contents of her stomach vacated her person. Once done, and having cleaned herself, she sat upon the shore, gazing inland. To the west, she could just make out Mount Canterhorn; a glint could be made out that could only be the towers of Canterlot Castle. The mountain towered over most of the landscape, and given the smaller mountain range a little to the north, she’d swam ashore between the two ports of Fillydelphia and Baltimare. Looking to the north showed she was closer to the city of Fillydelphia. Or the ruins, at least. She glanced back towards the larger mountain, then back towards the city. Finally, she adjusted her cloak and robes (thankful she had managed to save at least some of her gear when the boat went down) before turning towards Canterlot. And the village that bordered the forest that led to her goal. The lone unicorn left the beach behind, but she was not unobserved. Two figures sat on the dunes. Watching. Assessing. Evaluating. One was armored, with slots for her wings, a long spear held in the crook of a forehoof. A full helmet sat on their head, visor down and covering their face. They turned to their companion. “Are you certain that this is the one? She doesn’t seem like much.” “I’m certain.” The figure said back, their dark cloak covering them from muzzle to tail. “She has been away for quite a long time, yet now her hooves tread familiar paths once more.” A clank of metal signaled the rising of the armored pegasus. “Then I suppose you’ll have my support. Provided she doesn’t get in my way.” “I am sure that she won’t. In fact, I hope for the opposite. That she will be the one to bring an end to it all.” “Well, even if she doesn’t, it isn’t like things will change any worse. I’m heading for the city for now. I need to follow up on rumor.” “We all do as we must.” The cloaked pony replied. “May Harmony guide your hooves.” They dissolved into pink butterflies and were gone. The armored pegasus stood there a while longer, gaze locked on the unicorn. Her mane was a mix of red and yellow, reminiscent of fire. Her coat was golden in hue. The pegasus tightened their grip on their spear. “Will you be our salvation, Sunset Shimmer? Will you be my ally? I suppose only time will tell.” With a flap of their wings, they were airborne and headed towards Fillydelphia. It had been an hour since she had found the broken the road. Twice she had tripped over the uneven cobblestone and rubble, and every second that passed greatened a sense of unease within her. Her steps were slow; her hoofsteps quiet. A stillness clung to the world like a blanket, and she couldn’t help but keep from yanking it off. She paused, flicking an ear. She twitched her ears in various directions, before focusing on her right. There. A light tinkling sound. Like the softest of chimes. A flow of prismatic beams pointed to a small area a ways off the road. She scuffed her hoof on the road a couple times before shaking her hooded head and trotted off. The rainbow hued streams led her to small, crystalline sapling, around which they swirled. A peaceful aura emanated from it. She reached out a hoof and gently tapped against the crystal. With a burst of multi-colored light, the sapling began glowing, sending forth the beams from earlier into a single stream now pointing towards the base of the mountain. She sat there for a while, staring at the tree and beam of light, pondering its possible meaning. She had heard of this. Long ago. Other Shunned had talked of it. The guidance of Harmony. Over time, they had spoken of it less and less. Until one day she had awakened. Felt a pull…no. A call. A call to “Come Home.” She looked down at her covered hooves. No fur visible, no locks of mane or tail hung loose. She stood and walked back to the road. Without hesitation, she turned and began trotting towards the mountain, and Canterlot. Following the guidance of Harmony. Her hoofsteps slowed as a sound once more reached her ears. Instead of the tinkling chimes sound of Harmonic energies, quiet, slow hoofsteps echoed to her. Movement ahead. Sunset slowed her steps, moving off the road a ways. A small herd of ponies shuffled down the way, rising over a small dip ahead. Their coats were dull, nearly devoid of all color. Something pulled at her from within: two voices. A loud, firm voice that said “Kill them. Their weakness will be your strength!” But a softer, quieter voice spoke, “Look at them, poor souls. Leave them be. Lead them in Harmony.” She closed her eyes and turned away. A force slammed into her, flattening her where she sat. Chapter 2Sunset Shimmer pulled herself to her hooves next to the crystalline sapling, unsure of what just happened. She had chosen not to attack when she had been struck by something large. And heavy. Had she…had she died? And been resurrected at the site of Harmony she’d just visited? She stamped a hoof on the ground. First she was Shunned, and now she couldn’t even die right? She looked up at the beam of light, still pointing towards the base of Mount Canterhorn. So. This is what was meant to be guided by Harmony? To be chosen of Harmony, and Shunned by all others? Very well. She felt no weaker than she had before death. She was, however, highly annoyed. She pulled herself to her hooves, giving herself a stretch as she did. Whatever had killed her must have been moving with the herd of ponies she had run across. The ones that… She shook her head. Best not to think on that. The mere thought that she’d been tempted to… She stamped the ground as if crushing that thought. If she was able to help them, then she’d do it, by Harmony. She scoffed. As if she knew how to help them. Besides, they’d most likely passed by already. There was no knowing how long it had taken her to revive. She once more went to the road and turned towards Mount Canterhorn. It wasn’t long before she stopped, ears swiveling. Again, she moved off the road, a further distance away this time. The same herd of ponies shambled over the rise, their coats and colors dull. The same war rose up within her; both voices making their pleas. She pressed them down. Her eyes scanned the surrounding area. She turned to her right: two blazing red eyes, a mass of shadow. Darkness. Sunset Shimmer pulled herself to her hooves once more. Was she truly dying and being revived? It felt closer to resetting to when she first touched the sapling of Harmony. She shook her head; something to ponder later. At least she’d seen what had gotten her this time: a mass of shadow, shaped as a horse, with glowing red eyes. She frowned. The shadow horse had only attacked after she had refused to attack the herd of ponies. Was it the voice demanding she do so? Assessment time. All of her weapons…were at the bottom of the Celestial Sea. Sunken with her boat. Fortunately, she was a learned mage, but with little practice in a long time, any high tier spells were out for now. Her memory on many were fuzzy. She very clearly could recall Arcane Bolt, telekinesis (an instinctual magic to all unicorns), a basic Barrier, and…Spark. She tapped her hoof on her chin, and scratched out an equation into the dirt. Spark was an interesting basic spell in that it branched off into three directions: fire, lightning, and light. Light would probably be her best option against a shadow creature, which she assumed the horse creature was. She looked over the spell matrix she had drawn out and nodded. Time to test her mettle. A twig crunched under a hoof. Barely keeping from flinching, she kept her eyes peeled on the road. Crouched with bushes some yards off the road, she could easily see the herd of ponies as they shambled along. She couldn’t feel the inner tug this time, and as she watched, the shadow horse stomped up the rise. It stood, towering over the ponies, pawing the ground before whirling around, snarling at the herd. The ponies closest flinched away, shivering. The great beast pawed the ground, letting out a braying sound. It was laughing. It waited for the herd to move ahead a moment, taking the opportunity to survey the area. Twice it turned to stare at the bush she hid within, causing her to barely breathe. It stamped its hoof down twice, then turned and followed after the herd. A tendril of shadow whipped out from it, cracking the air as a whip. She took a steadying breath, then charged forward. She galloped as hard as she could, hooves pounding the ground beneath her. Her horn glowing, charging. The shadow horse turned its head, looking right at her. It’s shadow tendrils manifested, slithering up above. Forming into the shape of a massive hammer, it poised, ready to spring down and flatten her. Sunset kept her eyes forward. She had to time it perfectly. The hammer swung down; she threw herself forward. The hammer of shadow slammed the ground; Sunset found herself muzzle to muzzle with the shadow creature. Light exploded from her horn. Before the light even began to fade, Sunset lit her horn, firing off a burst of Arcane bolts. A hoof slammed into her chest, kicking her away. Sunset flew back, rolling when she hit the ground. Throwing herself into it, she rolled onto her hooves, sliding back a few more more hoof lengths. The shadow flickered in places: good. She had hurt it. Badly. Still, it was quite disconcerting for it to be glaring at her with a line remaining red eye. Hmmm. She reckoned she had enough in her mana reserves for one more Shine. Her horn glowed once more. The shadow’s remaining eye narrowed. A solitary tendril formed at its side, sharpening into a narrow point. She surged forward, pushing the last of her strength into her hooves. The shadow thundered across the distance at her, its lance cutting the air before it. The two charged into one another, the lance glancing her side as the world exploded into light. Sunset tumbled across the ground, barely managing to roll herself onto her hooves. She quickly flounced around, trying to face the shadow. It stood a ways from her. Then began to pitch to the side. As it fell, it dissolved into a mass of shadow that drifted apart like bits of ash. She heard something drop to the ground with a soft thump. She lay where she was for a moment, then pushed herself slowly back to her hooves fully. She looked where the lance had glanced her side: the wound had already closed, but the spot still throbbed. Walking to where the shadow had…dispersed…revealed what it had dropped: a small, glowing stone. She picked it up, cradling it in her hoof. It was a small green stone with a chain attached, as though it were meant to be wrapped around something. The stone pulsed with light; the green seemed to bleed out of it. A small portion of harmonic energy flowed into the stone from her hoof, taking on the appearance of a prism. Not sure what else to do, she grasped it in her telekinesis, holding it up higher to get a better look. As she raised it up, it flashed with prismatic light. The chain shot forward, wrapping around her horn, leaving the gem to dangle near the tip. Quiet hoofsteps caused her to turn. The ponies stood but a few hoof lengths from her, staring. Sunset opened her mouth, then quickly closed it. No words came to mind. She dipped her head. Their eyes followed. She blinked. Lifted her head; their eyes followed. She glanced up at the prism dangling from her horn. She pawed the ground. What now? Shunned, yet now stuck with a stone that draws ponies’ attention? Something tugged at the back of her mind. There was…definitely something. Something she was supposed to do now. She turned back the way towards the shoreline. The prism pulsed. She swung her head back around. Another pulse. She faced where the site of Harmony was. She turned to the ponies; they had gathered near her. A respectful distance away, but at least they were all together. She stood, and they moved as if to follow her. Taking a few experimental steps proved that they would follow. So, she trusted her instincts. The stone pulsed faster the nearer she drew, until it practically buzzed along her horn. She reached a hoof out and touched the sapling again. The prism pulsed with energy; the crystalline sapling pulsed back. As she stepped back, the other ponies moved forward. They huddled together around the small tree, as one would a campfire. Slowly, color began fading back into them, their dull coats showing faint colors. Their coats weren’t vibrant, yet…the more they sat around the sapling, the more…alive they seemed to become. A pink butterfly fluttered across her vision, causing her to stumble back in surprise. She blinked at realizing a new pony stood beside her, covered muzzle to tail in a long cloak. The new pony looked to the ponies gathered around the crystal sapling, basking in the small light of Harmony. “That was a Kind thing you did, Sunset Shimmer.” The mare said softly. She turned to face her directly. “Can you see it? Harmony’s guidance?” Sunset looked away, at the sapling. At the beam of light still pointing towards the base of Mount Canterhorn. “Yes. I believe I can.” “Hm.” The cloaked mare continued to stare at her, and Sunset knew that she was being evaluated. But something else caused her pause. “Why are you speaking with me? I am Shunned. One who walked away from it all.” “Yet now, here you stand. Your hooves tread Equestria’s soil once again. You claim guidance by Harmony itself. You…are a very curious mare, Sunset Shimmer.” The hooded mare nodded. “Very well. If truly you see the guidance of Harmony, we will meet again.” She dissolved into a kaleidoscope of pink butterflies that quickly dispersed. Sunset Shimmer stood there for a moment, then turned and looked at the ponies. Much of their color had returned, though not quite the normal vibrant. Indeed, now that she looked fully at her surroundings, the color of everything seemed…muted. Unlike her own coloring. Yet something told her they would be alright now. She pawed the ground twice, thrice, then turned and began heading down the road, towards the mountain. Chapter 3The rest of the day had remained uneventful, save for a small encounter with a couple of smaller shadow creatures. One had fallen to a single use of Shine; the other had taken a couple shots of Arcane Bolt. Neither had dropped any items, though they had released a small amount of Harmonic energy that had flowed into the prism. She may not have idea what this prism was, but it had proved useful before. And if it gathered Harmonic energy, maybe there was some way to use it again in the future? Music. She halted quickly. A song drifted along the breeze. No instruments, just a voice singing. Quite gleefully from the sound of it. Cautiously, she turned and crept off the road, heading into a clump of trees. The deeper into the trees she stepped, the clearer the voice singing became. And it was quite a silly sounding song. “Ring around the toadstools, a pocket full of rosebuds! Newts’ eyes! Fish breath! As I stir the brew!” Sunset stepped into a small clearing, horn glowing, ready to fight or flee at a moment’s notice. A large cauldron boiled merrily within a circle of toadstool mushrooms. A violently pink mare, dressed in black witch robes and a wide brimmed witch hat pulled over a poofy pink mane, was stirring a purples liquid with gusto as she sang out her song. Sunset immediately noticed that though her eyes were closed, the mare absolute knew she was there. She stopped (singing; she never stopped stirring) and grinned at Sunset. “Sunset Shimmer!” She reached into her mane for a pocket watch. “You’re late! Or possibly early!” She dropped the watch into the cauldron in order to tap her chin. “More probably both, to be honest. Eh, I guess it’d be a matter of perspective.” Sunset opened her mouth and promptly closed it. After two more attempts, she finally asked, “I’m sorry, but what, exactly, am I early and late for?” The Pink Witch stopped stirring and stared right at her in surprise. An excited smile slowly took over her face. “See? That is exactly, precisely, why I told Fluttershy that you were the one! I told her, I did, I says, ‘Flutters, Sunset Shimmer is our pony! Trust me, she’s our gal!’ But noooo! She had to doubt, she did! Mumbling and muttering about ‘testing, to be absolute certain’. Pffft! And here you come, waltzing to me, and you prove yourself exactly as I knew ya would!” Pinkie laughed, giggled, and gave a very satisfied sigh. “Of course, I told the others too. But only one fully sided with me. Flutters claims to remain on the fence, but I can already tell you she’s on our side. So that’s three! As for the others…they’ll come around. Eventually. Yipe!!” Black smoke was beginning to waft up from the cauldron. She grabbed the stick and began frantically stirring. The smoke immediately dissipated. Sunset could only stare, open mouthed. Finally she shook her head. “Truly, I’m sorry, but who are you? You’ve clearly been expecting me, but why? For what purpose? Do you have something to do with Harmony?” A single blue eye opened, and Sunset immediately locked up. “My friends and I have everything to do with Harmony, Sunset Shimmer. And you will need us if you hope to restore Equestria.” Her eye widened as it focused on the gem on her horn, and her smile deepened. “It appears you’ve already become a hoof above any others too. That gem is the Harmonic Prism. Yes, I’m aware. Such an original name. You’ve no doubt noticed that it absorbs Harmonic energy. But you more than like don’t know how to tap into that energy.” She pulled her stirring stick up, revealing it to be a long wooden spoon. She sipped the liquid, nodded, and closed her eye once more. Sunset let out a gasp, not even realizing she’d been holding her breath. The Pink Witch went back to her stirring. “Almost ready for ya, I think. As ready as it’ll ever be, perhaps. As for harnessing the power held within the Prism, that will be a lesson for another to teach, I’m afraid. But you are correct in thinking it can be harnessed. In all sorts of ways too. You already used it for one, leading those ponies to that site of Harmony. Rest assured, I’ve seen to them. They’re safe.” She pulled the spoon completely out of her cauldron, then reached into her mane, pulled out a kazoo, and blew into it. Balloons sprang from nowhere, obscuring everything from Sunset’s vision. With a cacophony of pops, Sunset sprang up next to a small site of Harmony, nestled between a couple of large boulders. The nearest forest was a long way off, and there was no sign that a fire with a cauldron had been nearby. At her hooves were two small stone flasks. She lifted them up with her magic, examining every facet of them. A small amount of energy flowed into the flask from the crystalline sapling. Immediately, they began filling with two different liquids. At least, she assumed they were liquids. One blue and the other red. They almost resembled potions, and if so, the red would more than like be for healing. Which would mean the blue was for her mana reserves. Chapter 4Finally, she had made it to her current goal! The base of the mountain. Yet a small fort held the gate up to Canterlot, and the gate was shut fast. A few soldiers patrolled the upper walls (she was certain there were more within). She sat at a site of Harmony some distance off. She could see them; she was certain they could see her (if they even bothered to look at a Shunned). The only time they took any notice was when she got too close. Somepony had fired a bolt at her. Not directly at her, but a warning shot in her direction. She idly tapped a hoof on the ground. She could try to force her way through the gate, fighting off or incapacitating the guards, but… there was no light guiding her towards the castle directly. Just a faint aura around the crystalline sapling, as though it couldn’t focus… Curiously, she stuck her horn into the aura, bathing the Prism in its light. A flash nearly blinded her, before it split into three beams: two small and a large. The smaller ones pointed north and south, both towards the castle and probably the small settlement just south of the mountain, near the Everfree Forest. Where what remained of the stump of the Tree of Harmony lay. But the third pulsed bright and strong, pointing to the west. It’s was rather intriguing, in a way. There currently wasn’t any way into Canterlot, and she certainly wasn’t willing to go near the Everfree just yet (least her instinct kept pushing her from that idea). Here was a clear beacon from the Prism pointing down the western path. She gave out a small sigh and pulled her horn out of the harmonic aura. Once the Prism left the aura, the beams winked back out of existence. Well, at least she learned a new way to use the Prism, as the Pink Witch had said. Which was another curious thing. Who exactly was the Pink Witch? She seemed to know a lot about what was going on, yet Sunset had barely gotten a word in edgwise. Further, the mare had basically said that while she knew a lot, she wouldn’t be telling Sunset anything. She shook her mane and stood; she could do her thinking while walking. Directly west of Mount Canterhorn lay the Smokey Mountains, with the Whitetail Woods being just south of them. Sounds of conflict quickened her hooves. Ahead, a lone pony was fighting against three smaller shadow ponies. She burst into a full gallop, horn charging, after a particular heavy blow the pony took, stunning them. Without hesitation, she unleashed a full burst of Arcane Bolts, throwing the second would-be-attacker from the prone pony. The third shadow immediately shifted its attention to her, shadow tendrils swirling angrily. It lashed forward; Sunset ducked down, horn already aglow. She unleashed her Shine spell once more, only for the Prism to suddenly flare alongside it. The sudden brilliance sent her tumbling. The first shadow managed to strike her flank as it disintegrated. She could only lay there, panting, bleeding, as she regained her bearings. With a shaky hoof, she reached into her pouch and pulled out the crimson flask. It tasted like strawberries; her flank stung a bit as flesh knit back together. “Extraordinary!” A voice said from nearby. The pony she’d helped stood a bit away, watching as her wounds healed themselves. “I’ve of course witnessed the works of healing potions before, yet never have I witnessed one of such efficiency!” Sunset sat up slowly, taking a moment to observe her new acquaintance: a grey furred stallion, a bit on the small side. Oddly, his mane and tail were completely clean of hair, only covered with his grey fur. “It was given me from the Pink Witch.” The stallion’s eyes widened. “Marvelous! I have heard of her, of course. She comes and goes as she will, always working towards some unknowable goal. Yet her works always are a thing of marvel! Such quality, ingenuity. Always furthering Harmony by interesting means. For a Shunned such as you, it’s fitting that she should meet with you.” The stallion rambled. “Ah, but where are my manners?! I am Styx, a humble scholar in service to Sunburst the All-Knowing.” He looked her up and down. “Though, I don’t recall ever seeing you at the Table of Harmony.” “I wouldn’t think you have, seeing as I’ve only just returned to Equestria. For that matter, I’ve not been to the Table of Harmony, though I’ve heard stories.” Sunset answered. “Where is it located?” Styx stared at her for a moment. “Only just returned to Equestria, you say? Interesting. Quite interesting.” He tapped his chin with a hoof. “In order to be welcomed to the Hold of Frienship, you’d need an invitation from one it’s keepers. Sunburst, of course, is unanimously considered the head of the Hold, so a word from him would get anyone in. Unfortunately, I am but one of his many scholars out in the wider world. As such, I cannot grant you interest, but when I return to turn in my next report, I will gladly give reference to you. The Hold would welcome you gladly, and the Table is in need of good Shunned such as you…” His voice trailed off as his eyes focused on her horn. “Well now! What’s this little bobble?” Sunset’s eyes nearly crossed as she glanced up at her horn. “I’m not entirely certain myself, but the Pink Witch called it the Harmonic Prism.” Styx tilted his head in thought. “The Harmonic Prism…I wonder…” He looked at her horn again, leaning forward a bit but not so close as to make Sunset uncomfortable. “Perhaps Sunburst has heard of it. I may have to ask when I submit my findings.” Sunset tapped a hoof on the ground a few times. “Do you know of anything of note to the west?” Styx paused. “Only the Smokey Mountains and Tall Tale beyond. To the north, there are the ruins of Vanhoover. Beyond the mountains, lies the north and south Lunar Oceans. Sire’s Hollow lays between them on a land bridge. Perhaps one of the Pillars fled to that region, after the Shattering. Perhaps Sombabula or Mage Meadowbrook. They both fled into the aether when war broke out between the other Pillars. Flash Magnus would’ve chased after, had Mistmane not taken advantage to decimate the majority of his forces. Now he’s fortified up in Cloudsdale, having consolidated his forces. S’why you won’t see too many pegasi down here on the ground.” He stood. “I must be going now; my thanks for the rescue! Without your aid, I very much worry I’d have been more scuffed up. I’ll be sure to give word of you to Sunburst.” Sunset watched him head down the road. As Sunset approached the site of Harmony, near a small crossroads, pink butterflies clouded her vision. Once they cleared, the mare from before stood before her. The mare reached up with a hoof and pulled down the hood of her cloak. A mane of light pink spilled down her shoulder; her fur a buttercream yellow. “You have come, Sunset Shimmer, as I hoped you would. I am Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness. And I would like to offer you an accord.”
Chapter 1Harmonic Tree The fallen leaves tell a story. The great Tree of Harmony was shattered, in Equestria. Across the sea. The Land of Harmony. Now the Princesses of Day and Night are nowhere to be found. On the Blackest Eve, Cadence, the Princess of Love, was the first to perish. Soon the Princesses Pillars, champions all, claimed the shards of the Tree of Harmony. The mad taint of their newfound power triggered the Shattering, a war from which no Bearers emerged. War leading to the abandonment of Harmony. Arise now, ye Shunned! You ignored who still strive towards Friendship. Chrysalis, Queen of the Badlands. The ever brilliant Starlight. Ditzy Doo, the Forlorn Mother. The Foresworn Knight. And Sunburst, the All-Knowing Scholar. And one other, whom grace would again bless. A Shunned of no renown. Cross the sea, to the Land of Harmony, to stand before the Harmonic Tree. She awoke in a small, dimly lit chapel, the air thick with the smell of salt, seaweed, and fish. Her stomach churned, unable to distinguish between hunger and nausea. After weeks of sailing, the small vessel she had used finally gave up the ghost, sinking just off the coast. And forcing her to swim to shore. Now, after years of aimless wandering, she once again stood upon the land of her birth. Equestria. The Land of Harmony. She barely made it out the door before the last remaining contents of her stomach vacated her person. Once done, and having cleaned herself, she sat upon the shore, gazing inland. To the west, she could just make out Mount Canterhorn; a glint could be made out that could only be the towers of Canterlot Castle. The mountain towered over most of the landscape, and given the smaller mountain range a little to the north, she’d swam ashore between the two ports of Fillydelphia and Baltimare. Looking to the north showed she was closer to the city of Fillydelphia. Or the ruins, at least. She glanced back towards the larger mountain, then back towards the city. Finally, she adjusted her cloak and robes (thankful she had managed to save at least some of her gear when the boat went down) before turning towards Canterlot. And the village that bordered the forest that led to her goal. The lone unicorn left the beach behind, but she was not unobserved. Two figures sat on the dunes. Watching. Assessing. Evaluating. One was armored, with slots for her wings, a long spear held in the crook of a forehoof. A full helmet sat on their head, visor down and covering their face. They turned to their companion. “Are you certain that this is the one? She doesn’t seem like much.” “I’m certain.” The figure said back, their dark cloak covering them from muzzle to tail. “She has been away for quite a long time, yet now her hooves tread familiar paths once more.” A clank of metal signaled the rising of the armored pegasus. “Then I suppose you’ll have my support. Provided she doesn’t get in my way.” “I am sure that she won’t. In fact, I hope for the opposite. That she will be the one to bring an end to it all.” “Well, even if she doesn’t, it isn’t like things will change any worse. I’m heading for the city for now. I need to follow up on rumor.” “We all do as we must.” The cloaked pony replied. “May Harmony guide your hooves.” They dissolved into pink butterflies and were gone. The armored pegasus stood there a while longer, gaze locked on the unicorn. Her mane was a mix of red and yellow, reminiscent of fire. Her coat was golden in hue. The pegasus tightened their grip on their spear. “Will you be our salvation, Sunset Shimmer? Will you be my ally? I suppose only time will tell.” With a flap of their wings, they were airborne and headed towards Fillydelphia. It had been an hour since she had found the broken the road. Twice she had tripped over the uneven cobblestone and rubble, and every second that passed greatened a sense of unease within her. Her steps were slow; her hoofsteps quiet. A stillness clung to the world like a blanket, and she couldn’t help but keep from yanking it off. She paused, flicking an ear. She twitched her ears in various directions, before focusing on her right. There. A light tinkling sound. Like the softest of chimes. A flow of prismatic beams pointed to a small area a ways off the road. She scuffed her hoof on the road a couple times before shaking her hooded head and trotted off. The rainbow hued streams led her to small, crystalline sapling, around which they swirled. A peaceful aura emanated from it. She reached out a hoof and gently tapped against the crystal. With a burst of multi-colored light, the sapling began glowing, sending forth the beams from earlier into a single stream now pointing towards the base of the mountain. She sat there for a while, staring at the tree and beam of light, pondering its possible meaning. She had heard of this. Long ago. Other Shunned had talked of it. The guidance of Harmony. Over time, they had spoken of it less and less. Until one day she had awakened. Felt a pull…no. A call. A call to “Come Home.” She looked down at her covered hooves. No fur visible, no locks of mane or tail hung loose. She stood and walked back to the road. Without hesitation, she turned and began trotting towards the mountain, and Canterlot. Following the guidance of Harmony. Her hoofsteps slowed as a sound once more reached her ears. Instead of the tinkling chimes sound of Harmonic energies, quiet, slow hoofsteps echoed to her. Movement ahead. Sunset slowed her steps, moving off the road a ways. A small herd of ponies shuffled down the way, rising over a small dip ahead. Their coats were dull, nearly devoid of all color. Something pulled at her from within: two voices. A loud, firm voice that said “Kill them. Their weakness will be your strength!” But a softer, quieter voice spoke, “Look at them, poor souls. Leave them be. Lead them in Harmony.” She closed her eyes and turned away. A force slammed into her, flattening her where she sat.
Chapter 2Sunset Shimmer pulled herself to her hooves next to the crystalline sapling, unsure of what just happened. She had chosen not to attack when she had been struck by something large. And heavy. Had she…had she died? And been resurrected at the site of Harmony she’d just visited? She stamped a hoof on the ground. First she was Shunned, and now she couldn’t even die right? She looked up at the beam of light, still pointing towards the base of Mount Canterhorn. So. This is what was meant to be guided by Harmony? To be chosen of Harmony, and Shunned by all others? Very well. She felt no weaker than she had before death. She was, however, highly annoyed. She pulled herself to her hooves, giving herself a stretch as she did. Whatever had killed her must have been moving with the herd of ponies she had run across. The ones that… She shook her head. Best not to think on that. The mere thought that she’d been tempted to… She stamped the ground as if crushing that thought. If she was able to help them, then she’d do it, by Harmony. She scoffed. As if she knew how to help them. Besides, they’d most likely passed by already. There was no knowing how long it had taken her to revive. She once more went to the road and turned towards Mount Canterhorn. It wasn’t long before she stopped, ears swiveling. Again, she moved off the road, a further distance away this time. The same herd of ponies shambled over the rise, their coats and colors dull. The same war rose up within her; both voices making their pleas. She pressed them down. Her eyes scanned the surrounding area. She turned to her right: two blazing red eyes, a mass of shadow. Darkness. Sunset Shimmer pulled herself to her hooves once more. Was she truly dying and being revived? It felt closer to resetting to when she first touched the sapling of Harmony. She shook her head; something to ponder later. At least she’d seen what had gotten her this time: a mass of shadow, shaped as a horse, with glowing red eyes. She frowned. The shadow horse had only attacked after she had refused to attack the herd of ponies. Was it the voice demanding she do so? Assessment time. All of her weapons…were at the bottom of the Celestial Sea. Sunken with her boat. Fortunately, she was a learned mage, but with little practice in a long time, any high tier spells were out for now. Her memory on many were fuzzy. She very clearly could recall Arcane Bolt, telekinesis (an instinctual magic to all unicorns), a basic Barrier, and…Spark. She tapped her hoof on her chin, and scratched out an equation into the dirt. Spark was an interesting basic spell in that it branched off into three directions: fire, lightning, and light. Light would probably be her best option against a shadow creature, which she assumed the horse creature was. She looked over the spell matrix she had drawn out and nodded. Time to test her mettle. A twig crunched under a hoof. Barely keeping from flinching, she kept her eyes peeled on the road. Crouched with bushes some yards off the road, she could easily see the herd of ponies as they shambled along. She couldn’t feel the inner tug this time, and as she watched, the shadow horse stomped up the rise. It stood, towering over the ponies, pawing the ground before whirling around, snarling at the herd. The ponies closest flinched away, shivering. The great beast pawed the ground, letting out a braying sound. It was laughing. It waited for the herd to move ahead a moment, taking the opportunity to survey the area. Twice it turned to stare at the bush she hid within, causing her to barely breathe. It stamped its hoof down twice, then turned and followed after the herd. A tendril of shadow whipped out from it, cracking the air as a whip. She took a steadying breath, then charged forward. She galloped as hard as she could, hooves pounding the ground beneath her. Her horn glowing, charging. The shadow horse turned its head, looking right at her. It’s shadow tendrils manifested, slithering up above. Forming into the shape of a massive hammer, it poised, ready to spring down and flatten her. Sunset kept her eyes forward. She had to time it perfectly. The hammer swung down; she threw herself forward. The hammer of shadow slammed the ground; Sunset found herself muzzle to muzzle with the shadow creature. Light exploded from her horn. Before the light even began to fade, Sunset lit her horn, firing off a burst of Arcane bolts. A hoof slammed into her chest, kicking her away. Sunset flew back, rolling when she hit the ground. Throwing herself into it, she rolled onto her hooves, sliding back a few more more hoof lengths. The shadow flickered in places: good. She had hurt it. Badly. Still, it was quite disconcerting for it to be glaring at her with a line remaining red eye. Hmmm. She reckoned she had enough in her mana reserves for one more Shine. Her horn glowed once more. The shadow’s remaining eye narrowed. A solitary tendril formed at its side, sharpening into a narrow point. She surged forward, pushing the last of her strength into her hooves. The shadow thundered across the distance at her, its lance cutting the air before it. The two charged into one another, the lance glancing her side as the world exploded into light. Sunset tumbled across the ground, barely managing to roll herself onto her hooves. She quickly flounced around, trying to face the shadow. It stood a ways from her. Then began to pitch to the side. As it fell, it dissolved into a mass of shadow that drifted apart like bits of ash. She heard something drop to the ground with a soft thump. She lay where she was for a moment, then pushed herself slowly back to her hooves fully. She looked where the lance had glanced her side: the wound had already closed, but the spot still throbbed. Walking to where the shadow had…dispersed…revealed what it had dropped: a small, glowing stone. She picked it up, cradling it in her hoof. It was a small green stone with a chain attached, as though it were meant to be wrapped around something. The stone pulsed with light; the green seemed to bleed out of it. A small portion of harmonic energy flowed into the stone from her hoof, taking on the appearance of a prism. Not sure what else to do, she grasped it in her telekinesis, holding it up higher to get a better look. As she raised it up, it flashed with prismatic light. The chain shot forward, wrapping around her horn, leaving the gem to dangle near the tip. Quiet hoofsteps caused her to turn. The ponies stood but a few hoof lengths from her, staring. Sunset opened her mouth, then quickly closed it. No words came to mind. She dipped her head. Their eyes followed. She blinked. Lifted her head; their eyes followed. She glanced up at the prism dangling from her horn. She pawed the ground. What now? Shunned, yet now stuck with a stone that draws ponies’ attention? Something tugged at the back of her mind. There was…definitely something. Something she was supposed to do now. She turned back the way towards the shoreline. The prism pulsed. She swung her head back around. Another pulse. She faced where the site of Harmony was. She turned to the ponies; they had gathered near her. A respectful distance away, but at least they were all together. She stood, and they moved as if to follow her. Taking a few experimental steps proved that they would follow. So, she trusted her instincts. The stone pulsed faster the nearer she drew, until it practically buzzed along her horn. She reached a hoof out and touched the sapling again. The prism pulsed with energy; the crystalline sapling pulsed back. As she stepped back, the other ponies moved forward. They huddled together around the small tree, as one would a campfire. Slowly, color began fading back into them, their dull coats showing faint colors. Their coats weren’t vibrant, yet…the more they sat around the sapling, the more…alive they seemed to become. A pink butterfly fluttered across her vision, causing her to stumble back in surprise. She blinked at realizing a new pony stood beside her, covered muzzle to tail in a long cloak. The new pony looked to the ponies gathered around the crystal sapling, basking in the small light of Harmony. “That was a Kind thing you did, Sunset Shimmer.” The mare said softly. She turned to face her directly. “Can you see it? Harmony’s guidance?” Sunset looked away, at the sapling. At the beam of light still pointing towards the base of Mount Canterhorn. “Yes. I believe I can.” “Hm.” The cloaked mare continued to stare at her, and Sunset knew that she was being evaluated. But something else caused her pause. “Why are you speaking with me? I am Shunned. One who walked away from it all.” “Yet now, here you stand. Your hooves tread Equestria’s soil once again. You claim guidance by Harmony itself. You…are a very curious mare, Sunset Shimmer.” The hooded mare nodded. “Very well. If truly you see the guidance of Harmony, we will meet again.” She dissolved into a kaleidoscope of pink butterflies that quickly dispersed. Sunset Shimmer stood there for a moment, then turned and looked at the ponies. Much of their color had returned, though not quite the normal vibrant. Indeed, now that she looked fully at her surroundings, the color of everything seemed…muted. Unlike her own coloring. Yet something told her they would be alright now. She pawed the ground twice, thrice, then turned and began heading down the road, towards the mountain.
Chapter 3The rest of the day had remained uneventful, save for a small encounter with a couple of smaller shadow creatures. One had fallen to a single use of Shine; the other had taken a couple shots of Arcane Bolt. Neither had dropped any items, though they had released a small amount of Harmonic energy that had flowed into the prism. She may not have idea what this prism was, but it had proved useful before. And if it gathered Harmonic energy, maybe there was some way to use it again in the future? Music. She halted quickly. A song drifted along the breeze. No instruments, just a voice singing. Quite gleefully from the sound of it. Cautiously, she turned and crept off the road, heading into a clump of trees. The deeper into the trees she stepped, the clearer the voice singing became. And it was quite a silly sounding song. “Ring around the toadstools, a pocket full of rosebuds! Newts’ eyes! Fish breath! As I stir the brew!” Sunset stepped into a small clearing, horn glowing, ready to fight or flee at a moment’s notice. A large cauldron boiled merrily within a circle of toadstool mushrooms. A violently pink mare, dressed in black witch robes and a wide brimmed witch hat pulled over a poofy pink mane, was stirring a purples liquid with gusto as she sang out her song. Sunset immediately noticed that though her eyes were closed, the mare absolute knew she was there. She stopped (singing; she never stopped stirring) and grinned at Sunset. “Sunset Shimmer!” She reached into her mane for a pocket watch. “You’re late! Or possibly early!” She dropped the watch into the cauldron in order to tap her chin. “More probably both, to be honest. Eh, I guess it’d be a matter of perspective.” Sunset opened her mouth and promptly closed it. After two more attempts, she finally asked, “I’m sorry, but what, exactly, am I early and late for?” The Pink Witch stopped stirring and stared right at her in surprise. An excited smile slowly took over her face. “See? That is exactly, precisely, why I told Fluttershy that you were the one! I told her, I did, I says, ‘Flutters, Sunset Shimmer is our pony! Trust me, she’s our gal!’ But noooo! She had to doubt, she did! Mumbling and muttering about ‘testing, to be absolute certain’. Pffft! And here you come, waltzing to me, and you prove yourself exactly as I knew ya would!” Pinkie laughed, giggled, and gave a very satisfied sigh. “Of course, I told the others too. But only one fully sided with me. Flutters claims to remain on the fence, but I can already tell you she’s on our side. So that’s three! As for the others…they’ll come around. Eventually. Yipe!!” Black smoke was beginning to waft up from the cauldron. She grabbed the stick and began frantically stirring. The smoke immediately dissipated. Sunset could only stare, open mouthed. Finally she shook her head. “Truly, I’m sorry, but who are you? You’ve clearly been expecting me, but why? For what purpose? Do you have something to do with Harmony?” A single blue eye opened, and Sunset immediately locked up. “My friends and I have everything to do with Harmony, Sunset Shimmer. And you will need us if you hope to restore Equestria.” Her eye widened as it focused on the gem on her horn, and her smile deepened. “It appears you’ve already become a hoof above any others too. That gem is the Harmonic Prism. Yes, I’m aware. Such an original name. You’ve no doubt noticed that it absorbs Harmonic energy. But you more than like don’t know how to tap into that energy.” She pulled her stirring stick up, revealing it to be a long wooden spoon. She sipped the liquid, nodded, and closed her eye once more. Sunset let out a gasp, not even realizing she’d been holding her breath. The Pink Witch went back to her stirring. “Almost ready for ya, I think. As ready as it’ll ever be, perhaps. As for harnessing the power held within the Prism, that will be a lesson for another to teach, I’m afraid. But you are correct in thinking it can be harnessed. In all sorts of ways too. You already used it for one, leading those ponies to that site of Harmony. Rest assured, I’ve seen to them. They’re safe.” She pulled the spoon completely out of her cauldron, then reached into her mane, pulled out a kazoo, and blew into it. Balloons sprang from nowhere, obscuring everything from Sunset’s vision. With a cacophony of pops, Sunset sprang up next to a small site of Harmony, nestled between a couple of large boulders. The nearest forest was a long way off, and there was no sign that a fire with a cauldron had been nearby. At her hooves were two small stone flasks. She lifted them up with her magic, examining every facet of them. A small amount of energy flowed into the flask from the crystalline sapling. Immediately, they began filling with two different liquids. At least, she assumed they were liquids. One blue and the other red. They almost resembled potions, and if so, the red would more than like be for healing. Which would mean the blue was for her mana reserves.
Chapter 4Finally, she had made it to her current goal! The base of the mountain. Yet a small fort held the gate up to Canterlot, and the gate was shut fast. A few soldiers patrolled the upper walls (she was certain there were more within). She sat at a site of Harmony some distance off. She could see them; she was certain they could see her (if they even bothered to look at a Shunned). The only time they took any notice was when she got too close. Somepony had fired a bolt at her. Not directly at her, but a warning shot in her direction. She idly tapped a hoof on the ground. She could try to force her way through the gate, fighting off or incapacitating the guards, but… there was no light guiding her towards the castle directly. Just a faint aura around the crystalline sapling, as though it couldn’t focus… Curiously, she stuck her horn into the aura, bathing the Prism in its light. A flash nearly blinded her, before it split into three beams: two small and a large. The smaller ones pointed north and south, both towards the castle and probably the small settlement just south of the mountain, near the Everfree Forest. Where what remained of the stump of the Tree of Harmony lay. But the third pulsed bright and strong, pointing to the west. It’s was rather intriguing, in a way. There currently wasn’t any way into Canterlot, and she certainly wasn’t willing to go near the Everfree just yet (least her instinct kept pushing her from that idea). Here was a clear beacon from the Prism pointing down the western path. She gave out a small sigh and pulled her horn out of the harmonic aura. Once the Prism left the aura, the beams winked back out of existence. Well, at least she learned a new way to use the Prism, as the Pink Witch had said. Which was another curious thing. Who exactly was the Pink Witch? She seemed to know a lot about what was going on, yet Sunset had barely gotten a word in edgwise. Further, the mare had basically said that while she knew a lot, she wouldn’t be telling Sunset anything. She shook her mane and stood; she could do her thinking while walking. Directly west of Mount Canterhorn lay the Smokey Mountains, with the Whitetail Woods being just south of them. Sounds of conflict quickened her hooves. Ahead, a lone pony was fighting against three smaller shadow ponies. She burst into a full gallop, horn charging, after a particular heavy blow the pony took, stunning them. Without hesitation, she unleashed a full burst of Arcane Bolts, throwing the second would-be-attacker from the prone pony. The third shadow immediately shifted its attention to her, shadow tendrils swirling angrily. It lashed forward; Sunset ducked down, horn already aglow. She unleashed her Shine spell once more, only for the Prism to suddenly flare alongside it. The sudden brilliance sent her tumbling. The first shadow managed to strike her flank as it disintegrated. She could only lay there, panting, bleeding, as she regained her bearings. With a shaky hoof, she reached into her pouch and pulled out the crimson flask. It tasted like strawberries; her flank stung a bit as flesh knit back together. “Extraordinary!” A voice said from nearby. The pony she’d helped stood a bit away, watching as her wounds healed themselves. “I’ve of course witnessed the works of healing potions before, yet never have I witnessed one of such efficiency!” Sunset sat up slowly, taking a moment to observe her new acquaintance: a grey furred stallion, a bit on the small side. Oddly, his mane and tail were completely clean of hair, only covered with his grey fur. “It was given me from the Pink Witch.” The stallion’s eyes widened. “Marvelous! I have heard of her, of course. She comes and goes as she will, always working towards some unknowable goal. Yet her works always are a thing of marvel! Such quality, ingenuity. Always furthering Harmony by interesting means. For a Shunned such as you, it’s fitting that she should meet with you.” The stallion rambled. “Ah, but where are my manners?! I am Styx, a humble scholar in service to Sunburst the All-Knowing.” He looked her up and down. “Though, I don’t recall ever seeing you at the Table of Harmony.” “I wouldn’t think you have, seeing as I’ve only just returned to Equestria. For that matter, I’ve not been to the Table of Harmony, though I’ve heard stories.” Sunset answered. “Where is it located?” Styx stared at her for a moment. “Only just returned to Equestria, you say? Interesting. Quite interesting.” He tapped his chin with a hoof. “In order to be welcomed to the Hold of Frienship, you’d need an invitation from one it’s keepers. Sunburst, of course, is unanimously considered the head of the Hold, so a word from him would get anyone in. Unfortunately, I am but one of his many scholars out in the wider world. As such, I cannot grant you interest, but when I return to turn in my next report, I will gladly give reference to you. The Hold would welcome you gladly, and the Table is in need of good Shunned such as you…” His voice trailed off as his eyes focused on her horn. “Well now! What’s this little bobble?” Sunset’s eyes nearly crossed as she glanced up at her horn. “I’m not entirely certain myself, but the Pink Witch called it the Harmonic Prism.” Styx tilted his head in thought. “The Harmonic Prism…I wonder…” He looked at her horn again, leaning forward a bit but not so close as to make Sunset uncomfortable. “Perhaps Sunburst has heard of it. I may have to ask when I submit my findings.” Sunset tapped a hoof on the ground a few times. “Do you know of anything of note to the west?” Styx paused. “Only the Smokey Mountains and Tall Tale beyond. To the north, there are the ruins of Vanhoover. Beyond the mountains, lies the north and south Lunar Oceans. Sire’s Hollow lays between them on a land bridge. Perhaps one of the Pillars fled to that region, after the Shattering. Perhaps Sombabula or Mage Meadowbrook. They both fled into the aether when war broke out between the other Pillars. Flash Magnus would’ve chased after, had Mistmane not taken advantage to decimate the majority of his forces. Now he’s fortified up in Cloudsdale, having consolidated his forces. S’why you won’t see too many pegasi down here on the ground.” He stood. “I must be going now; my thanks for the rescue! Without your aid, I very much worry I’d have been more scuffed up. I’ll be sure to give word of you to Sunburst.” Sunset watched him head down the road. As Sunset approached the site of Harmony, near a small crossroads, pink butterflies clouded her vision. Once they cleared, the mare from before stood before her. The mare reached up with a hoof and pulled down the hood of her cloak. A mane of light pink spilled down her shoulder; her fur a buttercream yellow. “You have come, Sunset Shimmer, as I hoped you would. I am Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness. And I would like to offer you an accord.”
