Harmony and curse

Outside the Town Hall…

A crowd of ponies had gathered, filling every corner in front of the building. Earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi stood together, united by fear and uncertainty. The clamor rose like a deafening roar, with so many voices overlapping that it was impossible to distinguish one from another. But they all demanded the same thing: the presence of the mayor.

The town hall's guards did their best to maintain order, blocking the entrance to prevent anyone from storming the building. At that moment, Light Wood stepped outside and positioned himself at the forefront, trying to impose calm.

"Please, ladies and gentlecolts, calm down!" he shouted, raising his voice above the chaos.

A pegasus hovering above the crowd was the first to respond.
"We want Mayor Mare! We need answers now. What was that surge of energy earlier?"

"Something dangerous is brewing in the Everfree Forest, and you're doing nothing! What does the mayor have to say about this?" shouted another pony from the ground.

The guards exchanged worried glances. None of them were prepared for this level of pressure; they were protectors, not leaders.

Light Wood swallowed hard but maintained his composure.
"Fellow ponies, I'm sorry to inform you that the mayor is… currently a bit indisposed."

The pegasus raised their voice again, now angrier.
"Indisposed? This situation is too serious for her to hide behind a cold or something trivial. We demand that she face us now!"

The pegasus's ultimatum triggered a fresh wave of shouts as the crowd's dissatisfaction grew louder. Despite this, Light Wood spoke up again, his voice firm.
"I understand your frustration, but please, just wait a moment. Three of the Elements of Harmony will speak on her behalf."

The mention of the Elements of Harmony managed to partially calm the crowd, which now murmured among themselves. The Elements were the town's only real defense against external threats.

Even though it was reckless to rely solely on a group of young and inexperienced mares to protect an entire community, no one could deny their importance, proven time and again through their feats against enemies and crises alike. For the ponies of Ponyville, these Bearers were their saviors.

Without needing words, the crowd chose to quiet their shouts and wait.

Amid the murmurs and frightened conversations, one pair stood out for their apparent calm—or at least, one of them did. A cream-colored mare with a blue and pink mane maintained a serious expression as she scanned every corner of the town, inspecting each pony as if searching for something specific.

"Bon Bon, are you even listening?" her companion asked, tilting her head curiously.

The mare, now known as Bon Bon, blinked and turned her attention back to her friend.
"Sorry, Lyra, what were you saying?" she replied with an apologetic tone.

"I was saying, do you think those three mares that pony mentioned are Twilight, Rarity, and Pinkie? They’re the only ones in town," Lyra said, glancing toward the town hall with intrigue.

"Most likely. Besides, they’re the ones who figured out that energy came from the Everfree," Bon Bon confirmed.

Lyra frowned, thoughtful.
"But how did they get to the town hall before us?" she asked, placing a hoof on her chin. Suddenly, her face lit up with alarm. "What if they’re changelings planning to take over the town?!"

Bon Bon let out a sigh, amused by her friend’s anxiety.
"Don’t worry; they probably teleported," she said reassuringly.

However, Lyra still seemed skeptical.
"But teleporting is already difficult on its own. Adding more ponies to the spell is practically impossible," she argued, her tone a mix of nervousness and curiosity.

As a unicorn, Lyra was well aware of the complexities of such magic. Teleportation spells, even those of level 1, required advanced skill and precise concentration, much more so when involving multiple ponies.

Bon Bon smiled and gently ruffled Lyra’s mane, causing her to let out a small gasp of surprise.
"You’re forgetting we’re talking about Twilight Sparkle, the Bearer of Magic. For her, this wouldn’t be an issue," Bon Bon said, her tone soft but confident. She then averted her gaze, her expression turning serious once more. "Besides… if they were changelings, I’d already know," she muttered.

"Huh? Did you say something, Bon Bon?" Lyra asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"I said it’s best to stay quiet. Look, they’re coming out now."

Both mares turned their attention to the town hall. Sure enough, the three mentioned mares were stepping through the front doors, with Rarity leading the group. The unicorn strode forward with an elegant posture, clearly prepared to address the crowd.

"Please, I just hope it’s nothing serious," Lyra murmured, her voice a mixture of worry and hope.

Rarity took a few steps forward, and with a firm but calm voice, she spoke:

“Dear citizens of Ponyville, thank you for your patience. I know recent events have caused confusion and fear, but rest assured, you are not alone.” Rarity lifted her head gracefully, her words carefully chosen. “As bearers of harmony, we are here to guide and protect you. However, I ask one favor: let us maintain order. One at a time, we’ll address your concerns.”

The crowd immediately raised their hooves, clamoring to be heard, as Rarity began selecting and responding with her characteristic poise. Yet, for Bon Bon, the commotion faded into the background.

Taking advantage of the fact that all eyes were on the bearers of harmony, Bon Bon discreetly reached into her mane and pulled out a scroll sealed with Princess Celestia’s emblem. She carefully unrolled it on the ground, ensuring no one noticed, and began reading it again.

“Agent Sweetie Drops, inform the mayor that the Canterlot Guard is on its way to the town. We have received reports of possible infiltrators and illegal experimentation deep within the Everfree Forest.”

Sweetie Drops, known in the town simply as Bon Bon, was actually an undercover spy for Canterlot’s secret anti-monster agency. Her mission was to protect ponies from dangerous creatures, many of which resided in the Everfree Forest.

Since Celestia disbanded the agency, its agents had been scattered across Equestria, working solo as unseen guardians. But with this letter, it seemed things were about to change.

She continued reading, her focus intensifying.

“Keep the town under close watch until the guards arrive. I know the agency was disbanded, but the situation demands action. By this letter, I officially declare the reopening of the Anti-Monster Agency.”

A small, satisfied smile crossed her face. Though the agency had been inactive, Sweetie Drops knew its members were still crucial to Equestria’s safety.

Finally, she reached the last part of the message:

“The safety of the ponies is paramount. The Elements of Harmony must not venture into the forest until my guards secure the area. I leave this in your hooves, Agent Sweetie Drops.”

Bon Bon’s expression hardened with determination. She rolled up the scroll and tucked it back into her mane. She looked up just in time to catch Rarity’s final response.

“So, to summarize, we don’t know exactly what’s happening in the forest,” a frustrated pegasus said.

“Unfortunately, no, darling. But what we do know is that whatever it is remains out there. You need not worry; if anything comes near the town, I assure you, we will handle it, as we have before,” Rarity declared confidently, though she swallowed nervously before adding, “Even if it means venturing into the forest ourselves.”

Sweetie Drops’ pupils shrank at those words. Had Celestia failed to inform Twilight and the others about the guards’ arrival? She had to prevent them from entering the forest, at least until reinforcements came.

She began backing away slowly, aiming to slip through the town hall’s rear entrance. Lyra seemed too engrossed in Rarity’s speech to notice her movements. Sweetie Drops was almost there when she turned and bumped straight into another pony rushing in the opposite direction.

Both let out startled cries and fell to the ground.

Lyra noticed the commotion and quickly turned, spotting the two ponies sprawled on the floor.

"Bon Bon! Sweet Celestia, what happened?!" Lyra exclaimed worriedly as she rushed to help the mare up.

"I'm wondering the same thing..." Bon Bon muttered through gritted teeth. This stallion had ruined her perfect escape. "Watch where you're going!" she shouted angrily.

The stallion shakily got to his hooves, sweating profusely and gasping for air, his head hanging low.

"I-I need to speak with the bearers..." he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, you'd better get in line, pal," Bon Bon said, gesturing toward the crowd with a sarcastic smile. "As you can see, practically the entire town wants to do the same." She cleared her throat and added, "If it's about that energy wave, don't worry—Celestia's guard will be here shortly to help."

"Really? What a relief..." Lyra said, visibly more at ease, though her brow furrowed in doubt. "But how do you know that?"

Bon Bon stiffened slightly at her slip.

"Oh, well, you know, just a hunch," she replied with a nervous smile. "It's only logical the princess would act, right?" She tried to brush off her unease.

Lyra was about to press further when the stallion suddenly shouted, his face drenched in tears and sweat, "WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME!" His desperation was evident. "A monster took my friend into the forest!"

Both mares stared at him, their faces showing disbelief but also an understanding that he wasn’t lying.

"But... Rarity said the town was safe. Are you sure you saw—?"

"A monster? What kind of monster?" Bon Bon interrupted, her tone now deadly serious. At the mention of monsters, everything else ceased to matter.

"I-I don't know... does it even matter?" the stallion replied between sobs, pressing a hoof to his forehead. "I was a coward... I left him behind. I have to make things right." His gaze fell to the ground, unable to meet anyone's eyes. "I couldn’t live with myself if he were to die."

The stallion lifted his head, his tear-filled eyes locking onto Bon Bon and Lyra, pleading.

"So please, help me get past this crowd. I know you don’t know me, and this is sudden, but I have no one else to turn to."

Lyra, the more empathetic of the two, covered her mouth with a hoof, her face etched with growing concern.

"I really want to help, but... I don’t know how..." she murmured, trembling as tears welled in her eyes. "Could a pony really die?"

Lyra’s words hit like a hammer. She had always been the optimistic pillar among her friends, the one who believed everything had a solution—that no matter how great the problem, it could always be resolved. She had grown up in a world where love and friendship triumphed, where the kindness of ponies could overcome any obstacle. But now, hearing the word death, something inside her shattered. Death was a concept she had never considered up close, so distant in a place like Equestria, where everything seemed so firmly under control.

The idea that a pony—someone who walked beside her, lived and laughed with her—might never wake again hit her like a direct blow to the heart. She couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness, as if her entire view of the world was crumbling around her.

Equestria, a kingdom safeguarded by Celestia and the Elements of Harmony, had enjoyed peace for so long, even amidst various catastrophes in recent years, that the mere mention of death felt foreign, almost unthinkable. But now, in this moment, everything had changed.

Bon Bon, on the other hoof, maintained her composure. She wasn’t a secret agent for nothing. Ever since the first disaster involving Nightmare Moon, she had prepared for anything worse that might come. Unlike many ponies who lived their lives in blissful innocence, she knew the world was far from perfect. This stallion’s desperate plea only confirmed what she had always known: darkness lurked in the shadows.

A brief thought crossed her mind:
“The safety of the ponies is paramount.”

With that conviction, Bon Bon clenched her teeth, her expression hardening with determination. She glanced toward the town hall and motioned toward the crowd.

Lyra, meanwhile, was visibly shaken, on the verge of tears like the stallion.

At that moment, Sweetie Drops spoke firmly:
"I’ll help you get through. It won’t be hard. We just need to go around and use the back door."

"Bon Bon?" Lyra looked at her friend, tears brimming in her eyes. "The guards won’t let us through—how are we supposed to manage that?"

The mare averted her gaze, her expression conflicted.
"They’ll let me through, I’m certain." Without another word, she began skirting the crowd at a brisk pace, the stallion following closely behind.

Lyra stared after her, confused and hurt as she realized she was being left behind.
"Wait for me!"

Bon Bon, without looking back, quickened her pace, taking the lead to assist the stallion.
"Let’s move—we don’t have time to waste," she said firmly, avoiding any further conversation. She knew this wasn’t the moment for explanations, and she certainly couldn’t reveal everything to Lyra right now.

Her quickened pace wasn’t just about helping the stallion; it was also a way to avoid giving more explanations to her friend. She knew the truth couldn’t stay hidden forever, but she wasn’t ready to reveal it yet. If she was lucky, maybe Lyra would forget about it, and her cover could remain intact.

Of course, the second scenario was too fantastical to hope for. Her biggest worry, beyond the obvious of being part of a secret agency and being unable to tell anyone, was that her dearest friend might believe that everything they had shared together was a lie.

"Thank you so much—really, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you," the stallion said, catching up to Bon Bon.

Lyra remained silent, watching as Bon Bon moved further ahead, a newfound resolve etched into her face. Her friend had changed suddenly, and she couldn’t understand how or why. Still, something deep inside told her that the world she knew was about to become far more complicated.

Meanwhile, outside the town hall, the crowd of ponies kept arguing—some supporting Rarity, others demanding the mayor's presence. To many, Rarity might have been one of the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, but the real authority they awaited was the mayor.

"Goodness, this is more exhausting than I thought!" Rarity said, fanning her face with a hoof.
"Light Wood, darling, could you fetch me some water, please?"
"Right away, ma'am!" the stallion replied, dashing toward the town hall without hesitation.

Rarity approached her two friends, who had been unusually silent throughout her speech. She was particularly surprised that even Pinkie Pie had refrained from interrupting.
"Thank you, Rarity. I don't know what we'd do without you," Twilight Sparkle said, a faint smile crossing her face, though her eyes betrayed barely contained tension.

"Oh, it’s nothing, dear; it’s the least I could do. While I couldn’t quiet them completely, at least they don’t seem as scared now. What I truly appreciate is Pinkie not interrupting even once. Speaking of which, where is she?" Rarity replied, rubbing her temple with a hoof as though the crowd had given her a bigger headache than she cared to admit.

"Huh? I thought she was right behind me," Twilight said, glancing over her shoulder, a slight knot forming in her stomach. She had been so focused on the surrounding chaos that she hadn’t noticed her friend’s absence.

They began scanning the area, and Twilight felt a surge of anxiety creeping in. Everything worried her: the tense situation with the crowd, Pinkie's earlier cryptic words, and the strange energy she kept sensing. She forced herself to stay calm, but unease lingered in her mind.

Finally, Twilight spotted Pinkie several meters away, standing behind the mayor’s staff. Her bright mane, like a beacon, was the only thing setting her apart from the crowd.
"There she is. What’s she doing?" Twilight asked, starting to trot toward her, gently pushing past the mayor’s staff. Rarity followed close behind, her steps steady but tinged with hesitation.

"Pinkie, what are you doing?" Twilight called out as she reached her friend’s side.

Pinkie sat motionless, staring off into the distance. Twilight frowned. Something was wrong. Pinkie never sat this still. Her face was blank, almost as if she was disconnected from reality. Twilight noticed her forelegs trembling, though Pinkie seemed unaware.

Twilight's concern deepened as Rarity came to a sudden stop beside her, her eyes filled with the same uncertainty. They exchanged a glance, reaching the same troubling conclusion.
"Pinkie, what’s wrong?" Twilight asked softly, cautiously approaching her. She hesitated, unsure whether to touch her or give her space. She was so used to Pinkie’s lively, boisterous nature that seeing her friend so quiet was deeply unsettling.

Pinkie slowly turned her head to them, her eyes shimmering with a mix of unease and faint fear.
"It’s my Pinkie Sense... My knees are pinchy—s-something really scary is going to happen," Pinkie murmured, her voice shaky and barely audible. She tried to smile, but her eyes told a different story. The smile was so forced that Twilight instantly knew this wasn’t one of Pinkie’s usual antics. Something serious was at play.

"Miss Rarity, here’s your water," Light Wood said as he returned, oblivious to the tension surrounding them.

The sound of a town hall employee’s voice broke through the heavy tension in the air. Rarity, slightly thrown off by the sudden shift, used her magic to take the glass of water offered to her.

“Oh, thank you, darling,” Rarity replied, though her tone was mechanical, her mind clearly preoccupied with something far more significant than a simple glass of water.

The crowd immediately refocused their attention on Rarity.

“Miss Rarity, what has Princess Celestia said about all of this?” some ponies in the crowd shouted. Their voices, a mix of impatience and fear, rose above the restless murmuring.

Rarity glanced toward the crowd, then back at Twilight, her gaze reflecting a blend of doubt and urgency. It was a small nod from Twilight that finally pulled her out of her indecision.

“Pinkie, are you okay?” Twilight asked, gently placing a hoof on her friend’s back. It was a gesture meant to convey comfort, but it felt hollow, as if the weight of the situation was too much for simple words or actions to resolve.

“Huh? Yeah, hehe, of course, I’m fine,” Pinkie replied, her voice lacking its usual pep. She forced a wide smile, but the doubt in her eyes was unmistakable.

“This is just like when we talked earlier. You said your Pinkie Sense was stronger than ever before,” Twilight said as she sat beside her friend, her voice tinged with a quiet pain. She could tell Pinkie was trying to brush off the situation, but the warning lingered in her mind, repeating like an echo.

Pinkie shook her head, trying to brighten her smile even more.

“Yep, but it’s gone now. You know me, hehe, I laugh in the face of fear!”

Pinkie’s grin remained dazzling, but Twilight knew her well enough to see beyond the facade. Pinkie’s knees were trembling, and her mane seemed to straighten and relax intermittently, as though weighed down by an invisible burden. Something was wrong, but Twilight couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. Pinkie was in danger, and the realization only deepened her growing concern.

“Hey, look, an ant colony!” Pinkie suddenly exclaimed, bouncing toward a small mound on the ground, as if trying to distract herself. Twilight, however, couldn’t help but notice how forced her enthusiasm seemed.

Twilight sighed, watching Pinkie with a mix of affection and worry. At least, for now, Pinkie was distracted, but Twilight couldn’t shake the feeling that something much worse was on the horizon.

The uncertainty gnawed at her more with each passing moment. Pinkie’s recent words only added fuel to her anxiety. The atmosphere was becoming heavier, as though something dark and ominous loomed just out of sight, waiting for the most vulnerable moment to strike.

In fact, Twilight had begun to feel that the magic-infused energy in the air was thickening, becoming more oppressive. Something was undeniably wrong. And as if confirming her fears, the source of that energy was coming from the exact direction where Pinkie was staring.

The sound of a town hall employee’s voice broke through the tense atmosphere. Sweetie Drops and the other two ponies arrived at the rear entrance of the building, where they were met by a tall, stern stallion standing guard. His posture radiated professionalism.

“You can’t go in,” the stallion said firmly, his deep, authoritative voice leaving no room for argument.

“But I really need to speak to those mares,” another stallion insisted, visibly desperate. Beads of sweat ran down his forehead.

“Calm down… uh… what’s your name again?” Sweetie Drops asked, realizing she had never bothered to ask.

“Me? I-I'm Shein,” he stammered.

“Well then, calm down, Shein. Let me handle this,” Sweetie Drops said, her tone steady, though her eyes carried a look that left no room for doubt.

Lyra leaned closer to her friend, whispering anxiously in her ear, “And how exactly are you planning to convince him to let us in?”

“No need to convince him,” Sweetie Drops replied without looking at Lyra, her gaze locked on the stallion. “I have the right to enter.”

Sweetie Drops reached into her mane with her hoof and pulled out a golden badge engraved with Princess Celestia’s insignia. The authority that emanated from the badge was unmistakable.

The stallion exhaled sharply, surprised, as Sweetie Drops quickly returned the badge to her mane.

“Celestia’s authority,” he muttered, stunned. Seeing the badge, he immediately realized there was no room to argue.

These official badges were ornate metals, gilded with gold, sculpted with Celestia’s image, a horseshoe in the center, and a radiant sun above it, exuding the princess’s distinctive magic. They symbolized the absolute authority granted by Celestia to the bearer, allowing them to do whatever was necessary.

“Of course. My apologies, miss. Please, go ahead,” the stallion said, stepping aside to open the door courteously.

“Thank you. Let’s move,” Sweetie Drops said, galloping through the doorway without waiting for the others.

Shein followed closely behind without hesitation.

“Bon Bon, wait for me!” Lyra shouted, rushing after her friend.

“What was that thing you showed the guard?” she called out, her mind racing to process what had just happened.

Sweetie Drops remained silent, her pace steady. The weight of what was to come loomed heavily over her, leaving no room for distractions.

“Why are you acting so weird?!” Lyra shouted again, her voice rising with the pressure of the situation.

“Now’s not the time, Lyra,” Sweetie Drops growled, her tone firm but laced with discomfort. She couldn’t afford to lose focus. There was something far more important at hand.

Frustrated, Lyra let out an exasperated growl and lunged at her friend. Both mares tumbled to the ground with a loud thud.

“No! I want you to tell me what’s going on! Ever since that wave hit the town, you haven’t been yourself! Are you even really you?!” Lyra cried, her voice trembling as tears threatened to spill. The tension only fueled her paranoia, her anxiety growing with each passing moment. Sweetie Drops had never been so closed off, so distant.

Sweetie Drops avoided Lyra’s gaze, her eyes darting around for a few seconds as if searching for an escape from the confrontation. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she gave in.

“Shein, go on ahead. I need to speak with Lyra alone,” Sweetie Drops said as she pushed her friend off her and slowly stood up, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

The stallion nodded firmly and galloped away. “I swear, I’ll repay you all one day,” he muttered as he disappeared down the hall.

The two mares were left alone, the silence between them palpable. Sweetie Drops avoided Lyra’s eyes, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Well?” Lyra demanded, tapping the floor impatiently with her hoof, her gaze fixed on Sweetie Drops, searching for answers.

Sweetie Drops kept her eyes on the ground for a few moments, her brow furrowing as her conflicting thoughts churned. After a brief pause, she finally raised her head and met Lyra’s gaze with a determined expression. She couldn’t keep everything hidden any longer.

Shein didn’t slow down for even a second, despite the burning in his lungs and the pleading of his muscles for rest. He couldn’t stop; compared to whatever Fern was going through, this was nothing.

Upon reaching the exit door at the far end of the town hall, the stallion burst through it with a forceful push, the sound luckily drowned out by the commotion outside. Shein’s gaze darted erratically around until he spotted the unicorn sitting in a corner to his right.

“Miss Twilight! MISS TWILIGHT!” Shein shouted and immediately galloped toward her to grab her attention, but he wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“Hey! Stop him! How did he get into the town hall?!” yelled an employee, and a small group of them intercepted the stallion, blocking his path and shoving him back.

“What’s going on?!” Twilight turned, alarmed, seeing a group of employees restraining a pony she didn’t recognize but who was shouting her name like she was his last hope.

“Twilight, I need your help, please! You’re the only one who can help me!” Shein cried as he struggled against the employees.

“No civilians are allowed in the town hall. I’m sorry, but you need to leave immediately,” growled one of the employees at random.

Twilight scrutinized the stallion’s expression and noticed his desperation. It wasn’t the typical fear she had seen in the other ponies; it was as though he had witnessed something. She quickly approached the group and tried to calm them.

“No, no, no, it’s fine. Let him go.”

The employees complied, releasing Shein cautiously. The stallion took deep breaths, trying to refill his exhausted lungs.

“Miss Twilight, you need to listen to me, please,” he said, attempting to steady his voice, though the anguish was unmistakable.

“Take a moment to breathe, calm down first,” Twilight said, subtly gesturing with a hoof to usher the other ponies away and create some privacy.

Shein inhaled deeply for a few more seconds before blurting out, his words coming in a rush.

“There’s no time. I… I think I know what caused that energy.”

Twilight’s concern deepened as she focused on Shein.

“Are you sure? This is extremely serious.”

Shein spoke in a frantic, hurried manner.

“Yes, my friend was taken. We were at the bar on the outskirts of town, and I argued with him. Then the bartender came to break us up, and suddenly… something appeared out of nowhere. I tried to run, but then… it took him, and—”

He was speaking so fast that Twilight struggled to follow.

“Wait, wait, wait. Slow down—I can’t understand you. Your friend was taken? And a bar? Since when does Ponyville have a bar? Look, I need you to explain exactly what happened. I can’t act on your words if they’re so vague, and worse if you’re this scattered. I understand you’re scared, but please, calm down and talk to me.”

Shein understood Twilight perfectly, but calming down in this situation was almost impossible. Still, he knew that if he didn’t, things could spiral further out of control.

Taking several deep breaths, Shein steadied his nerves while Twilight waited patiently. After one last long exhale, he began to speak again.