Balance within Harmony

It had been two long weeks for Pinkie Pie since Rainbow had got his pet and slowly healed from his injuries, causing a long wait before she could start throwing her parties. But it had allowed her plenty of time to plan them to the finest detail, and work out exactly how much gunpowder was too much for the party cannon - the explosions had entertained the Cake foals. She decided to leave the engagement party for later, until the Princesses could attend. Besides she had already still done a song and dance routine for the new couple, about the importance of sharing and caring, and from her friends faces she was sure they enjoyed it.

So today was a party to celebrate the defeat of Discord. All the guests had just arrived and the party was getting into full swing. Everypony had noticed that Rainbow and Fluttershy had been spending a lot of time together since his injury, even after his wing had healed. And during the party it looked like the were often deliberately avoiding spending time together, thought often looked over to see what the other was doing.

Twilight and Rarity was sat at the back of the room, watching all of this “Looks just like us when we started to date” Rarity giggled

“By celestia, did we look that bad?” Twilight responded rubbing his fiancées hoof

“Well, you did, I looked absolutely fabulous as always of course!”

As the party was drawing to a close, suddenly Spike found himself “delivering” a letter from the princess. He went over to Twilight and presented him the letter.

“Do you have to read it now?” Rarity asked

“You know it could be important” Twilight laughed, and started reading the letter. During the letter his face started to get more serious, and Rarity started gathering the rest of the bearers suspecting something important was brewing.

Twilight put down the letter, shocked to find his friends gathered round staring at him.

“So?” Rainbow asked

“We leave tomorrow morning” Twilight simply said

“What shall we pack?” Rarirty asked

“Jungle wear, for us, Spike…and for…the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

“My sister?” Applejack and Rarity echoed out in union.

"Your Sisters?" Fluttershy, Rainbow and Pinkie joined them.

“Us?” The three fillies who were eavesdropping called out

***

The nine ponies and dragon were let off of Friendship Express at the edge of the large forest next to the Hayseed Swamp, a special drop off between cities arranged by Celestia. The group headed into the forest, worried about what lay ahead. Celestia’s letter had sent them on a quest to find an ancient artefact and insisted that all ten of them had to go. This was obviously a little unnerving for the six older ponies, fearing for caring for the younger fillies, and what this quest would involve.

Scootaloo and Applebloom were excited to be going on a real adventure, whilst Sweetie Belle didn’t think it was the safest idea, but knew her sister and future brother in law would look after them all.

Celestia had said that they were to go into the forest to track down an artefact in the Temple of the Deci-Sphere of Truth, with it’s estimated location highlighted on a old map of the forest. Rainbow had wanted to fly ahead, but had been persuaded it was safest that the whole group stayed together. After spending an uneventful night camped out in a cave, the adventurers headed back out early the next morning and eventually reached the temple, which was covered in moss, vines and generally looked very foreboding.

“It looks just like something out of Daring Do!” Fluttershy purred happily

“Daring what?”

“It’s a book, Rainbow. I’ll lend it to you sometime” Fluttershy responded to the colt

Yeah, we may be together but me…read a book…don’t make me laugh

“We have to go in there” Sweetie squeaked

“It’s nothing worse then the ancient ruined castle of the royal pony Sisters” Rarity soothed her sister

“Yeah, except we never went there” Scootaloo responded “And last time you guys did you didn’t exactly leave the same way!”

Twilight was standing in front of the temple, building up a powerful spell “I’m sure nothing like that will happen…twice” he lied, and released a spell of immense power which slowly opened the door at the base.

The ponies slowly ventured inside, Twilight casting a light spell at the front, Rarity doing the same at the back, with Rainbow and Fluttershy walking side by side, whilst Spike and the Crusaders huddled together in the middle.

The passageway soon opened up into a big room, and in the middle there was a giant pit, too wide for even Applejack to jump across, separating the side they were on from the other side where the passageway seemed to continue.

“Hardly difficult, we can fly everypony across” Rainbow boasted, and tried to take off. However, he found that he couldn’t leave the ground “What’s happened to my wings?”

Twilight flared his horn a little “There’s an anti-flying field in place!”

“So how do we get across?” Applejack asked.

Twilight flared his horn again and with a pop teleported himself from the front of the group to the back, and then to the front again. “Teleporting seems to work…wait here I’m going to try going to the other side”

“Don’t” cried out Rarity “What if there is some magic that stops you halfway?"

Applejack took his lasso in hoof and wrapped it around Twilight “Then we aughta pull him back…quickly” and gave Twilight a nod.

Twilight disappeared and thankfully found himself to the other side “Nothing seems to be wrong he yelled”. Twilight horn began to glow, and suddenly the rest of the group found themselves joining him.

“So, this was just a simple magic test?” Rainbow asked

“I guess it means that there has to be a fairly powerful unicorn in the group to continue” Rarity responded “Like my…I mean our…Twilight here. Not just anypony can teleport others you know”

“I’m sure there will be more tests to come” Applejack mused.

As they continued along the corridor it slowly wound upwards until the entered a second chamber and they looked around the room. This time there was nothing unusual about the room, except the next door was at the top of the wall opposite, which was a shear cliff with no hoofholds to climb.

“Let me check” Rarity announced, trying to flare her horn a little “Nope, can’t cast any magic in here”

“So, this has an anti-magic field?” Applebloom asked “So how do we get up there?”

Without replying, Rainbow grabbed the earth foal in his arms and flew her up to the door “Good old fashioned Pegasus power!” he boasted, and between him and Fluttershy (for the two other foals and Spike) they carried their friends up to the door.

As they entered the a third chamber, a room in which the only door was the one that they entered. They had a look around to spot what the next test could be, or indeed the exit. Rarity again tested her magic and declared that there was an anti-magic field again “Who is powerful enough to cast such things as anti flying and anti magic rooms?” Fluttershy asked

“The Princesses can enchant such things, and we know Discord could, it’s not difficult just takes a very long time” Twilight explained, as they searched the room.

Pinkie suddenly had her hoofs do a funny dance, and she placed them against a uninteresting bit of wall “Hey guys, I think this is the exit, according to my pinkie sense.” and she tried pushing the wall, with no luck.

All the ponies gathered round and started pushing but as soon as the others touched it the wall started glowing red and didn't move. However, four circles in the wall didn’t glow, at about flank height.

“I think I know what this is” Applejack laughed “Pinkie, a little help?” And with that the two earth ponies turned, put their rear hoofs where the four circles were, and pushed with all their earth-pony strength. The wall started glowing green, and the wall moved back revealing a staircase up.

“Had to be Earth ponies turn I guess” Applejack gloated, wiping his brow as Pinkie lay exhausted on the floor.

“Well, not just Earth ponies, somepony as strong as you I think” Pinkie quipped suddenly leaning over from the stairs above.

As they went up the staircase, everypony had the same thought First Unicorn, then Pegasus, then Earth. I wonder what the next test will be? Not before long found themselves in a fourth chamber, with flames licking from the walls. As soon as they stepped further into the chamber, the flames intensified, although as soon as they backed off they died down again. The exit was clearly visible at the end of the room.

Twilight horn flared, but nothing happened “There’s an anti-teleport spell in place. How exactly are we supposed to cross this without getting burnt?” Twilight pondered aloud

“Can’t you put up a force field or something, egghead” Rainbow teased.

“I can’t block a flame that intense for long enough, it would take a much more powerful unicorn to do so!”

“So, we’re at a deadend? We can go home?” Fluttershy asked, a little too gleefully for an adventurer.

“Leave it to me” Spike interrupted, and went running off into the room. The flames intensified again and the nine ponies yelled out after him in union.

“Don’t panic, you guys” Spikes voice carried from within the flames “They’re not real, it’s an allusion”

Pinkie slowly edged forwards towards the source of the heat, but poking a hoof and withdrawing it, she found Spike was right. “Hey guys, it feels hot but it’s not”

The nine ponies took a deep breath, and all charged as quickly as they could across the room. It felt like they were being roasted alive, but as soon as they reached the other side they found no actual injuries, it was all just an allusion.

“Spikey Wikey, that was a very silly thing to do!” Rarity tried to scold the dragon, who was looking smug.

“I’m a dragon, remember? A little flame can’t harm me, not even Lava can!”

Sweetie Belle and the other Crusaders’ gave Spike a big hoof bump as they continued

“So what was that a test of?” Pinkie asked

“A test of faith I guess, or perhaps a test of courage?” Twilight was guessing, trying to find a link and guessing what was to come.

“Or if you have any awesome and cool, death defying Dragons with you?” Spike added, causing them all to laugh as they continued.

After another short journey, they entered into a chamber which looked very different from the previous. This time there were lots of small holes in the walls, floor and ceiling.

“This looks like a trap” Fluttershy yelped. Applejack found a lose stone on the floor and kicked into into the chamber. As soon as the stone had passed into the chamber, arrows and spikes started shooting out of the holes, smashing against the rock and each other, before magically resetting.

Twilight and Rainbow dash both tried to use their respective magic and flying powers, but found that they were useless.

“How are we supposed to cross?” Pinkie Pie wondered allowed

“There's four small passageways on the side here, I think we can just a about squeeze in” Scootaloo bounced, looking forwards to be helpful for once.

Above each of the passageways was a small symbol – a series of horizontal squiggles; three spirals, a cone and flame. The Cruscaders and spike nodded at each other, and all dived into one of the passageways before anypony could stop them.

“Come out here right now missy” Rarity called out

Sweetie, who had gone into the hole with the cone, ignored her sister and found herself in a chamber with a small hole in it. She carefully put her horn into the hole, and it started glowing. Scootaloo had gone into the hole with the spirals, finding herself in a chamber with a small windmill in it. She fluttered her wings causing the mill to spin and start glowing. Spike had taken the hole with the flame, and soon found a small chamber with a small pillar. Spike breathed his fire over the pillar, which started to glow. Lastly, Applebloom had dived into the hole with the squiggles, finding herself in a chamber with a large lever in it. She placed her whole body under the lever and with all her rustic strength managed to slowly lift the lever, causing it to glow.

Once Applebloom had finished, a magical tunnel appeared in the main chamber creating a path throught the trap. The other ponies called out to the Crusaders’ and Spike, and the group ran full speed through the tunnel before it disappeared. At the other end the bearers looked over the four proud youngsters and despite wanting to scold them, had to admit they couldn'y have proceeded without them.

After what turned out to be a final climb they entered a very elaborately decorated chamber and could see a glowing sphere on a podium at the far end of the room, surrounded by a very strong force field.

“The Sphere!” they all called out at the same time.

Twilight felt out carefully with his magic Aura. “Well, this force field is more powerful then any single pony could muster, or destroy. It’s the most powerful protection spell I’ve yet to come across!”

On the ground in front of the nine ponies and dragon was a pyramid shape, clearly made out of ten circles with one at the point closest to the sphere, and four at the base. Within each circle there were four hoof-sized circles.

“It looks like we need to stand in the pyramid” Pinkie bounced

“So Celestia knew there would need to be ten of us?” Sweetie Belle chipped in, a little nervously.

“It is called the Temple of the Deci-Sphere after all, that may have been a clue” Rarity gave her sister a small hug “ but I know Celestia wouldn't put you in any real harm” Except of course thouse spikes back there?

Twilight took the front position, ready to defend the others from any unknown threat. The others put the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the third row, with Rainbow and Fluttershy taking the two behind Twilight, and the others at the back.

As soon as Spike took up the last position, a force field appeared separately around each of the separate circles, cutting them off from each other. The force field in-front of the Sphere then slowly changed colours, revealing a series of words.

Twilight slowly read them out “In order to release yourself, and get the treasure you seek, the truth of the thing you fear the most is what you must speak”

“So, we have to reveal our deepest darkest fears?” Spike gulped “What sort of trick is that?”

Twilight flared his horn testing the force fields. “It’s no trick, I would guess if you were trying to steal the treasure the magic would know this and stop you or something. Anyway, I’ll go first…”

Twilight took a deep breath “I fear that one day I will let down the Princess and fail her as a student” Twilight admitted, and with a poof the force field around him disappeared. Without moving he sighed “Sorry Rarity, I know it should really be losing you…”

“It’s alright my dear” Rarity called out from the back of the triangle “Afterall we’ve just met, and you’ve been the Royal Protégé for much of your life! I…I understand” she cooed

Twilight sniffed a little “Okay guys, gals and dragons. Nopony move out of your circles until we’re all done.”

“I fear that I will never be good enough for the Canterlot elite…which I will be spending a lot more time around now I'm with my dear Twilight” Rarity gushed, releasing her force field “Sweetie, you go next”

“I fear…well nothing” the small unicorn blurted “I mean, I have fears of the small things, but I have a wonderful family, wonderful friends and really fear nothing!” she squeaked at the end, and whilst Sweetie was looking at her sister then her fellow Crusaders, her force field lifted.

“Hue-wee, that’s the unicorns out of the way, time for us Earth ponies I reckon.” Applejack looked at his sister in front of him, and with a slight quiver in his voice he started “I fear never being able to provide the upbringing Applebloom needs…since our parents died …to make her the awesome big pony I know she will grow up to be”

Applebloom couldn’t see her brother, but could hear the sadness in his voice “I fear losing the rest of my family, ‘specially ma brother Applejack given how often he is called away to save the day” Applebloom sadly spoke. She wanted to run over to her brother, as they both had been released, but both stopped themselves.

“I fear that my parents will never accept my decadent party lifestyle and I will never see them again” Pinkie admitted quickly with a slight straightening of her hair, releasing her force field along with a little tear from her eyes. The other ponies looked at each other, surprised that the party pony, who made everypony happy, had hidden such sad feelings inside.

There was a lot of tension and passion building in the room. Spike then looked towards Twilight “I fear losing Twilight” he yelped, but the force field didn’t release. He sighed a little and added “…because I’ve already lost her as a mother..” but the force field still didn’t release

Twilight looked over his shoulder with a small tear in his eye “Go on” he gently urged.

Spike gave a big gulp “…and-he-will-have-a-family-with-Rarity-and-I-will-have-no-one-as-I-don’t-have-any-other-family” he yammered quickly, releasing the force field

“Oh Spike, I will never leave you” Twilight cried, desperately fighting the urge to run over to his dragon friend.

“And you are part of my family as well now, Spikey Wikey” Rarity added with tears forming at the edges of the fake eyelashes she wore even on a potentially dangerous adventure.

A silence feel over the room, as many of them were now holding back tears and nopony wanted to break the silence

“So“ Rainbow gulped “It’s us mighty Pegasi left. My fear is simply failing, not from not being good enough, but from not trying hard enough. And this applies as much to the Wonderbolt, as it does being the perfect special somepony…er...someday”

As the forcefield disappeared from around the colt, the ponies all looked at each other, not so much in surprise at the news they all half expected, but the honesty in the usually reserved brash colt. Rainbow looked over to Fluttershy, whose whole face was in a deep blush.

“I fear never being able to fly like Rainbow Dash” Scootaloo confidently shouted out, but not releasing her force field. The two pegasi infront of her turned to look, as did her friends on either side, worried why their friend wasn’t realised. “Okay…okay…I fear never feeling the love of a caring family, like what Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle have” the orphan whimpered as the force field disappeared.

“We love you” her two fellow crusaders shouted out in unison, both giving their Pegasus friend the biggest smiles they could muster Gee whizz, there’s going to be a lot of tears when we’re all done Applejack thought to himself, covering his watering eyes a little with his hat.

This just left Fluttershy to go, and all the ponies wondered what the most nervous and fearful of ponies would say.

Fluttershy took a deep breath “I fear Rainbow, my true love, leaving me” she yelled as loud as a mouse. The force field didn't change. “But, that is what I fear the most?” Fluttershy stammered helplessly.

The other ponies looked at each other, surprised that wasn't the truth. Twilight rubbed his hoof against his chin “Fluttershy, I think you need to expand why”

Fluttershy looked nervously over to Rainbow “but…I can’t. Not yet, not in front of everypony else”

Rainbow gave Fluttershy the most loving look he could muster “Look Flutters, whatever it is we can handle it…together”

Fluttershy started welling up, but realised that the only way to release herself would be to tell the truth “Oh, okay…I fear Rainbow leaving me…when he finds out…that I can bare…” she sobbed a little before continuing “…any foals” she finished, releasing her force field and that around the sphere.

But no pony noticed that straight away as Rainbow and Fluttershy feel into a big hug, as did the earth ponies, whilst Sweetie went over to comfort Scootaloo, followed closely by Rarity and Spike. This left Twilight standing at the head, with piles of ponies behind him. He was tempted to go and console his friends, but equally was preparing for any last minute tricks or traps.

After a few minutes, Twilight cleared his throat to get everypony’s attention. “Look friends, I know we all want to be there for each other, but we need to get a move on.” The ponies prepared themselves as Twilight slowly walked towards the sphere, and gently lifted it by magic.

As soon as he did, all the ponies (and dragon) were magically transported out of the pyramid, which then magically disappeared into the ether in front of their eyes. “Wow, that was unexpected” Pinkie voiced everyone’s thoughts “Let get this Sphere of Truth" She air-quoted "back to Canterlot”

But before they left Twilight headed straight for Spike and gave him one of the biggest hugs he had done since Spike was a very young baby dragon “Oh Spike, I will always be there for you” he wept as the others stood next to their various loved ones comforting them in some way.

***

After another day of travelling back through the forest, they reached the railway tracks where they waited for the next train to pass. They managed to flag down the next express (thanks to Rainbow flying ahead to slow it down) and as soon as they were onboard, all but two of them feel fast asleep. Twilight stayed up to guard the treasure, whilst Pinkie decided to stay up with him.

“Are you okay”? Pinkie asked, after about an hour had passed without any movement from the colt

“Oh, I’m sorry Pinkie, I’ve got a lot on my mind…I’m fine, are you okay?”

“I’m okay, dokey, loki!” Pinkie responded, but it was obvious the usually bouncy pony was lying

“Pinkie, are you sure? I mean…not wanting to pry…but I never knew you felt that way about your family”

“Oh, that” Pinkie sighed “Well, my family is very traditional, as much so as the Apples, so I do sometimes feel like I’ve let them down. But then I see the happiness I can bring to all my friends, and all the foals in town…”

“Especially Pound and Pumpkin” Twilight added, trying to bring a smile to his friends face.

“…yes, especially them, although still don’t get me started on their taste in stand-up material! So I know I made the right choice…I just miss them”

“Don’t you ever go and visit them?”

“Not since I’ve left…it’s a bit like you are your parents I guess. Once you leave home, no matter how young we are, we never seem to find time!”

“I know what you mean. I haven’t seen my parents in years, and then today…” Twilight broke off and took a sip of drink “I mean, I never really thought about how Applejack and Apple Bloom must miss their parents, as of course Fluttershy and Rainbow do, and they don’t have any siblings either”

“Yes, it’s so sad” pinkie agreed, the smile wiped off her face “Although they clearly now have each other, as does AJ and Bloomy”

“But, it must be worse for Scootaloo. I mean, she’s never known any of her family…I know it’s hard on Spike but he has had me and the Princess to grow up with, as well as my brother Shiny and Cadence our foal sitter. Scootaloo on the other hoof…”

“I know, but at least she now has Sweetie and Apple Bloom”

Both ponies returned to silence, thinking about all the hardships in their friends life’s that they never talk about. Sometimes it’s so easy to bury the truth that it hardly ever comes to the surface Twilight thought to himself.

***

Later that evening the ten adventurers slowly, and very tiredly, entered the main chamber of Canterlot Castle where Luna and Celestia were waiting for them. Twilight levitated the Sphere over to the Princesses, who took it from his aura and placed it in the vault behind the throne along with the elements of harmony, with both Princesses sealing it.

“Thank you My Little Ponies, for recovering the Sphere of Truth”

“It was no problem ya highness” Applejack responded with a bow, even taking his Stetson off.

“Princess, how did you know it would require all ten of us to retrieve it? Did you know what the tests were?” Twilight asked, eager to take his usual role as student.

“It is true that we were involved in the setting of some of the tests in the pyramid” Luna answered

“The first three tests were designed to ensure only a group of mixed ponies, or indeed combined powers of a much more powerful being such as Alicorns or Draconequus could pass. It also means only a group that trust and look out for each other can continue”

“The final test was set by Celestia and myself” Luna continued “It was a test of character. By telling out loud your greatest fear you allowed the spell to find out all it needed to about who spoke. Only if all ten in the pyramid had good intentions for the treasure, would the Spheres force field be lifted.”

“Other groups have failed one or more of these tests - don't worry it was impossible to be harmed, it just transported them out of the temple and blocked their re-entry. But we had no doubt that the bearers of the elements, the loyal Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Spike the most talented baby dragon in all of the land, would be able to overcome all obstacles”

“So, Princess, what is the Deci-sphere of Truth?” Twilight asked “And why couldn't you recover it yourself?”

Celestia took up her most regal stance “It is part of a larger object, one that can only be used very sparingly. The name is based on the fact that it has ten parts, none of which can be recovered by any single creature.”

“Not after the last time” Luna added, before receiving a stare from Celestia

“Last time? What happened last time?” Applebloom asked, forgetting she was in front of Royalty.

“That is a story for another day...” Celestia started "For now, you must return to Ponyville whilst Luna and I find out where the remaining parts are.”

Sister, can we not tell them yet? Luna asked telepathically Surely they have earned our trust

It is not a matter of trust dear Luna, they must come to the conclusions themselves rather then being forced into anything. Besides, whilst we have the elements of harmony and the truth sphere, some of the items remain to be found...