Harmony’s Hate

“Is this some kind of joke?!” Thornbush shouted at the confused guards. “What does it mean not eligible for military aid?!” He fanned the letter in the air with his magic.

“Please keep calm, sir.” A brown guard tried to de-escalate the situation. “What seems to be the problem?”

“Problem? You barbarians are trying to close my shop for good, that’s the problem! Without the program, I won’t survive until I refill my stock!”

“Please, sir. We can talk this out without shouting.” The second guard, who had a white coat, looked around at the Crystal ponies staring at the commotion. “May we know what business you own? There has to be a mistake.”

“Of course there has to be!” Thornbush agreed. “The flowers won’t bloom for another three months! How am I supposed to gain any profit when my shop is at a standstill?! You better tell me why I have been denied military aid!”

“Sir, we have limited supplies at the moment,” said the brown guard, who got worried looks shot at from his partner, “we are trying our best to help as many businesses as possible, which means we had to exclude a few that got deemed low-risk.”

The white guard facehooved at his partner’s insensitivity. Of course, Thornbush reacted with fury at his audacity. “What?!” He shouted, “Preposterous! I can’t do any business for the next few months, and you have the gall to call it low-risk?”

A small crowd was forming in the distance, trying to stay close enough to hear the conversation yet far enough to not get caught up in it. A fact both of the guards and Thornbush were well aware of.

“Forgive my partner, sir,” the white guard tried to apologize. “He didn’t mean to—“

“If flowers are the problem,” the brown guard interrupted him, “then why not speed up their growth with magic?” The white guard cringed at this. “I’m sure a skilled gardener like you knows how to do it.”

“What?!” Thornbush screamed. “Are you serious? Has your mother not taught you any common sense? I wouldn’t be surprised if she were ashamed of raising such a brute! If my father were still alive, he would discipline you back to the academy days! You foul-mouthed dung-eater!

“Alright, what is going on here?” A voice spoke up from behind the crowd, who gave way to a pegasus mare. She walked past them with royal grace and elegance, and approached Thornbush with a calm smile.

“Ah, Rosefeather!” Thornbush exclaimed. “Thank goodness you’re here, could you please knock some sense to your… friends from the palace? They think I can just will my flowers to bloom!”

Rosefeather looked at Thornbush smiling softly, before turning her head to the guards. “What seems to be the problem?”

The white guard silenced his partner with his hoof before answering. “An unhappy business owner, Ma’am. It looks like the general decided his shop did not require aid.”

Rosefeather nodded, ignoring the scoffs coming from Thornbush. “I’ll take care of it, boys. You can continue your shift.”

“Thank you, Ma’am.” He looked angrily at his brown partner. “We should probably report this incident to the general.”

The brown guard looked at his partner in confusion, before being pushed by him to continue their patrol. Rosefeather turned to Thornbush, who watched the guards angrily, and smiled.

“Rough day?” She asked, trying to sound empathetic.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Thornbush handed her the letter. It had an official stamp of the head of the guard. She opened it to read it while also listening to the complaints of Thornbush. “Like, seriously! We return from… whatever that place was, and then they come to protect us while being completely useless when Sombra attacked! I tell you, if the Sisters hadn't intervened, we would have gotten rid of Sombra by ourselves!”

“And how many more would perish then?” Rosefeather asked, silencing Thornbush for good. “Listen, I know you are on edge. We all are! But lashing out on some guards on patrol is not going to improve your situation.”

He scoffed. “Easy for you to say, Miss I-returned-to-the-castle!”

“This is a low blow, even for you.” She retorted with a calm demeanor. “Listen, this has to be a mistake. I had a talk about the program with the general, and he agreed that businesses like yours are the most vulnerable. I’m sure it can be resolved in a matter of days, if I bring this issue to his attention.”

“You would do that for me?” Thornbush asked, now ashamed of his own rudeness.

“Of course!” She smiled. “I’m also dependent on your rosestone tulips, remember?”

“Oh, yeah!” His gaze turned to something else, as if he was remembering something distant. “Forgive me, it has been such a long time since I could grow flowers.”

“I know, old friend. I know.” Rosefeather guided him to a bench they could sit on. “How’s Rosie? Still an adventurous mare, I guess.”

Thornbush laughed. “She couldn’t stop asking the Canterlotians about the outside world. Have you heard of this Train station that has been built?”

“Yeah, the princess mentioned it was part of a transfer program they have planned. What about it?”

“Nothing of value to me. But Rosie was enamored by the wild tales they told her. I’d say, at least half of them were false. She begged and begged, until I said Fine! and gave her some bits so she could buy a ticket to Canterlot for a few days.”

“You let her travel? Alone?” Rosefeather said with an exaggerated gasp. “Who are you?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Thornbush waved at her dismissively. “Laugh all you want. I’m sure you would be as anxious if you had a foal on your own. Especially after the last five years.”

“That’s exactly why I’m surprised, my friend.” She teased him. “I thought after all of that, you would never let her out of your sight ever again. What changed?”

“A lot, Rosefeather,” Thornbush sighed, his head hanging down. “A lot.”

Rosefeather looked at Thornbush worriedly. “Is it about Sapphire?” She asked.

“No, no,” Thornbush immediately crossed his legs in front of him in denial. “I would never have anything against your brother, Rosefeather. I owe him my life, just like everyone else. That whole situation was all Rosie’s decision, and I’ve learned to respect that.”

“Then what’s the problem?” She pushed. “You are not acting like yourself.”

Thornbush sighed again. “Everything’s changed, Rosefeather. Nothing’s like it used to be. The value of bits dropped. And I’ve realized that I can’t protect Rosie forever.”

“So it is about Sapphire?” Rosefeather said.

“Not exactly,” Thornbush conceded. “Anypony could’ve done it. After Rosie volunteered I realized… She's an adult. I can’t watch over her shoulder her entire life. Not if I want her to be happy.”

Rosefeather rested her hoof on Thornbush’s shoulder and looked deep into his eyes. “I’m glad you finally realized this. She has grown into a wonderful mare, and her talents would’ve been wasted if you put her in your shop.”

“I know that now,” He smiled at Rosefeather. “Thanks for supporting her when I didn’t. I believe she’s capable of making her own decisions now, and there are worse role models to follow than Sapphire.”

Rosefeather smiled at her friend. “How long has it been since we could just… sit down and talk?”

“Woah,” Thornbush exclaimed in realization. “Honestly, I don’t remember the last time we did that.”

“I think I had tea at your place,” she tried to remember. “After Tulip Leaf invited me.” Her eyes widened in realization and she turned to Thornbush apologetically. “I’m sorry, I—“

“It’s alright, Rosefeather,” Thornbush smiled at her, yet his eyes were filled with sorrow. “I doesn't matter anymore. I just have to make the best of what I have.”

They sat there in silence for a moment. Watching how the crystal ponies went about their business, as they embraced the peace they wished for so long. However, Rosefeather still felt bitter bile in her throat.

“He’s not a traitor,” Rosefeather said firmly, surprising Thornbush.

“What?”

“What you said about there being worse role models than Sapphire,” she elaborated with a serious look. “I know what you tried to imply, he’s not a traitor.”

“Hot Hammer was the closest to Sombra and his pupil,” Thornbush retorted. “And he was the only one who benefited from his rule.”

“He’s a smith! It made him a perfect pawn for Sapphire’s plans.”

“Oh, really? How can you two be so certain he didn’t leak information to gain favor?” Thornbush jerked back when Rosefeather suddenly turned to him.

“He’s the reason most of our operations worked out. If Sombra found out, who do you think would be the first to taste his wrath?” She hissed.

Thornbush contested her gaze for a moment, before sighing in defeat and turning his head to look down the street. He thought of a way to move the conversation along. To retaliate or maybe even to change the subject. Yet before he could come up with anything, he noticed a crowd running up the street towards them.

“Rosefeather,” he said in concern. “You see this?”

Rosefeather followed his gaze down the street to the crowd. “Yes, I see it.”

“What do you think happened?” He asked.

“Whatever it is,” Rosefeather said squinting her eyes. “I have a bad feeling about it.”

They watched as the group came closer and closer, until Rosefeather could make out the individual ponies. She squinted her eyes in surprise when she recognized the pony leading the group. The mare leading the herd noticed them as well and immediately changed course straight for them.

“Is that,” Thornbush started, standing up. “Rosie? What is going on?”

“Rosefeather!” Rosie exclaimed once she got to them and caught her breath. “Where’s Sapphire? We have an emergency!”

“He is probably still on his shift. Why? What happened?” Rosefeather looked at the gathered crowd and their eyes filled with distress.

“Rose Thorn said she saw the Demon’s Disciple!” Said someone from the crowd.

“What?!” Rosefeather and Thornbush exclaimed in unison.

“Are you sure, Rosie?” Rosefeather asked the gasping mare, grasping her by her shoulders.

“I wasn’t more sure my entire life!” She said.

“But how can that be?” Thornbush wondered. “He wasn’t with us when we returned from limbo!”

“Maybe he was, but was unaffected by the after effects?” Someone else wondered. “He could have escaped when he realized Sombra was loosing!”

“Enough!” A mare from the crowd shouted. “It doesn’t matter how he came back! What are we supposed to do now?”

Everyone turned to look at Rosefeather. Even Thornbush waited to hear what she was going to say. Rosefeather froze, her mind racing through the possibilities. What would Sapphire do?

“Alright!” She called after a moment. “This calls for protocol Burrow. Who lives on the north wing?” A few hooves rose up. “Good, you will go and inform the key locations about the protocol, on the north. Tell everypony about the situation!”

“Even the guards?” Asked one of them.

“Of course not!” Thornbush exclaimed. “They will only stand in the way!”

Rosefeather shot her friend a scornful look. “Tell the guards to convene at the Crystal Heart. Once I tell Sapphire about the situation, it will be only a matter of time before the whole guard gets mobilized. Now, who lives on the west wing?”

She repeated the question for the rest of the cardinal directions, making sure everyone was aware of their part in the protocol. She then dismissed them and the selected ponies scattered to spread the message.

“What should we do?” Thornbush asked hugging his daughter.

“You should evacuate like everyone else.” Rosefeather answered. “You remember the way to the meeting point, right?”

Thornbush nodded, but Rose Thorn seemed on edge. “What about you?”

“As I stated before, I have to inform my brother. He’s the only one who should explain everything to the general.”

“Then I’m going with you.” Rose Thorn said with determination. “I want to help him.”

“Sweetheart, I know you want to prove yourself, but this is not the way to do it.” Rosefeather said.

“It’s not about me,” Rose Thorn elaborated. “It’s about Sapphire.”

Rosefeather smiled at her in defeat and shook her head. “Alright. Thornbush?”

“It’s her decision.” He said, his daughter looking at him with a hesitant smile.

Rosefeather nodded, remembering the talk they had just a moment ago. “Alright then, let’s go Rosie.”