Chapters Derpy Hooves flicked water from her mane, stomping the liquid from her hair with her hooves. Steam rose in the air from the bath that had recently been drained, clinging to the mirror, and making the air humid and warm. The gray Pegasus stretched her wings gently, then reached for her eye-patch.
A long time in the running, she had become used to the fact that her eyes were not quite right. She'd accepted it even, with the help of the ponies she loved. But when it came to proving her flying skills, she couldn't afford to make mistakes. Today was an assessment for all ponies who were guards. Derpy herself was a guard to Luna, even though the previous Princess of the night had stepped down from her position in royalty and become a teacher for every pony willing to learn.
The attire had never changed much from her old guards to what Derpy wore now. She had tight fitting gold armor, but it was more for show than for protection. There were gaps wide enough to fit her wings and for her muscles to flex out in the open. A blue pendant clasped it in place around her neck, but she wore her Element necklace over-top of it.
Once she'd slipped into her armor, she trotted confidently out into the living room. Lyra was opening the windows to let in the mild air. Derpy dipped her head in greeting, then sat down and began to stretch each of her legs.
"Where is Dinky?" Derpy said, looking around.
Lyra stuck her head out of the window for a moment, then pulled it back inside. "She's outside, about to join the others. I guess she wants to cheer you on."
Warmth bloomed inside of Derpy and she nodded vigorously, itching with excitement. She wanted to show her daughter that she was no longer a clumsy mail-mare, but a flier, a protector of Luna. Said Alicorn was not inside, probably out in the fresh air, giving orders and commands to everypony.
Derpy blinked down at her necklace for a moment, then trotted out of the cottage, shaking out her warm damp fur in the cold biting air. It was Winter, and the landscape was blanketed in white. Taking a deep breath, Derpy let her eyes adjust to the stinging cold and the brightness of the snow, then bounded forward, hooves sinking into the thick white dunes.
"Derpy! Derpy!" Dinky's lavender shape came tunneling through the snow, her eyes glowing. She rubbed up against her mother, her tail bobbing up and down.
"Where is Luna?" Derpy asked, trying to spot the dark mare in the bright snow.
Dinky shrugged, blinking slowly and sighing when her mother looked disappointed. "I don't know. She received a letter and flew off, promising that she would be back in time to watch the assessment."
"Oh..." The light inside of Derpy dimmed for a moment, and her forehead creased in a frown. Who would send Luna a letter so important that she had to leave to attend to it?
"Pegasi, Earth Ponies, and Unicorns alike, gather!" Spitfire, one of the Wonderbolts, was standing knee-deep in snow a good distance away, beckoning all of the ponies around. Together with Luna she was going to judge the fliers of the academty. Surely she wouldn't start without the Alicorn?
Nerves fluttered in Derpy's stomach. She winced slightly as she slipped in beside Trixie, folding her wings by her sides. She had thought that she would be performing in front of her close friend, Luna, but still the Alicorn was yet to return. She snorted gently and adjusted her necklace, the cold air tickling at the spots where her fur was thinner.
"Now," Spitfire began, "Today you understand that you will tested that your flight skills are still in order. Ponies who do not pass will have to train with me and Soarin to improve what you lack in. Ponies who pass will join the Weather Team for Winter Wrap Up."
"Hold up!" Dinky squealed, her voice full of excitement as she thrust through the crowd. "Look! It's Luna!"
The filly pointed to the sky, and Derpy raised her head, a smile spreading on her face as she saw the larger mare flying overhead, doing a whirl around the clearing before landing gently, wings stretched wide, head held tall. Derpy dipped her head gently to her friend, but Luna's gaze simply washed over her, then flicked away again.
What's going on? Derpy thought sourly, picking out the way Luna observed everyone in front of her as if they were much lower beings. Her deep blue coat didn't have the same sheen, instead it was more of a stone gray, a color more like slate compared to Derpy herself.
"Greetings, ponies." Luna said, voice echoing all around.
Derpy pursed her mouth shut as the others excitedly greeted their mentor in return, suspicion stabbing at her chest. She watched as the Alicorn sauntered over to Spitfire and spoke quietly with her, before turning to the crowd and waving her wings in signal for them to split into the groups of their type.
Slowly but surely, Derpy slid away from Trixie and followed close behind another Pegasus. She sighed a little and tried to ignore the niggling feeling about Luna, guessing that the former Princess was just trying to act formal for the important occasion.
"Unicorns, today you will be going to Canterlot to meet Princess Celestia." Luna said, saying her sisters voice with what seemed like spite, "You have prepared here the best you can, and now you are ready to join her academy as well known students."
Derpy glanced at Trixie, to find that the blue unicorn was fixing Luna with a dark, confused stare. Obviously both ponies had the same worries about their mentor. She turned back to watch Luna, narrowing her eyes to slits.
"Earth ponies, you will be preparing for Winter Wrap Up. You must go to Ponyville, and make sure everything is done right." Luna continued, and her choice of words twisted Derpy like a spring.
Spitfire had obviously noticed Luna's sharp tone, and she laughed nervously and scraped her hoof on the ground. "Travel lightly, and make sure to have fun."
More ponies around her started to bristle, and Derpy shook her head lightly. Whatever has happened, I'm going to get to the bottom of it.
"And Pegasi," Luna's voice cause Derpy's attention, "I will witness your assessment. Begin."
While the other ponies separated into their various groups in chatty lumps, Derpy struggled between them and raced up to Luna, eyes full of worry. She skid beside the Alicorn and waved her wings angrily, trying to get her attention. When Luna finally looked down, she yawned and looked Derpy up and down as if she was a meal being looked over by a hungry pair of eyes.
Derpy cleared her throat and glared up at Luna, but forced her voice smooth. "Wish me luck." she said.
"You wish." Luna replied darkly.
Okay, now I know something is up! Derpy was taken aback by Luna's sharp comeback. She glanced at the group of Pegasi heading away, then back at the Alicorn. She sat down stubbornly, refusing to move away.
"What's your problem?" She growled, jabbing Luna with a hoof.
The larger mare looked down at her with what looked like boredom in her eyes. "I don't have a problem, it's obviously you who has the problem."
There was a sudden sparkle of magic, and a twirl of bright smoke as a letter appeared in front of Luna, then gently floated to the ground. She reached out for it lazily, but Derpy snatched it out of the air and unrolled it, smirking as the Alicorn glared at her as if to say 'How dare you?'
The letter read:Dear Luna, Do not let yourself get out of hand, I am on my way. Reach deep into your heart, and hold out until I get there! This doesn't change anything. From Celestia.
Derpy glanced up at Luna, then rolled the scroll up neatly and tucked it under her wing. "I don't know what is going on, but you better tell me!"
Luna growled and rose to her hooves, eyes burning as her stone gray mane whirled around her. "Give me that letter!"
Quick as a snake, Derpy darted away and fluttered into the air, clasping the letter tight in her teeth. "It's not important! You just have to suck it up until Celestia gets here!"
As if summoned by her name, the white Alicorn came flying out through the trees, snow whipping up around her like a blizzard. She half crash-landed in front of Luna, eyes burning. She rose onto her hind legs, front legs swiping.
"Derpy!" She cried, staring up at the gray Pegasus. "Quickly, your neckla-"
She was cut off as the ground trembled violently, causing screams of panic and fear to rise into the air. Snow was shaken off the trees, and the earth continued to rumble, shaking so hard that Celestia and Luna both stumbled sideways. Derpy tried to place her feet on the ground, but she was instantly cast aside. She rose into the air, pulling her necklace off and trying to get it over her head-helm and the bristling blue hair spouting from the top, but failing.
"Luna! Celestia!" She cried, watching them stagger around, trying to get off the ground with beats of their wings. Suddenly, a coldness tied around her like a choking rope.
Save yourself. Fly away. Said a slow, deep voice in her mind. She doesn't love you, obviously. Just look at the way she spoke to you. Forget them.
Derpy tossed her head, almost crashing for the ground. She resisted the taunting words, landing on the ground and skidding as it continued to quake. Never will you overpower my love for my friends!
There was a bright flash of light, and Derpy squinted, seeing Luna struggling to pin Celestia to the ground. The two large Alicorns wrestled on the shaking, snowy ground. Darkness was all Derpy saw in Luna's eyes, and the light from Celestia's horn washed over both of them, soon consuming the whole area, taking over Derpy too.
She pressed close to the ground, trembling with fear. Quickly, your necklace. Celestia's voice echoed in her head. Derpy clutched at her neck, but she felt nothing but fur. The Element necklace was gone. Soon the light faded to pitch black, and Derpy suddenly had the sensation of falling, falling, falling...
Author's Note
Please read my story http://www.fimfiction.net/story/86133/be-forgotten-for-your-differences-or-have-your-differences-forgotten#comment/2184156 to understand this one.
Derpy stretched her legs out at awkward angles, pain jolting through her tendons as she moved. Wincing, she pulled her limbs back in and tucked them against her stomach. The ground beneath her was hard and rough. She stirred, lifting her head groggily and licking around the inside of her dry mouth.
The landscape was musky and brown, the hills swept clean of nature. The rolling hills were vaguely familiar, but without the sheet of snow and greenery of before, it looked uncomfortably bare. Derpy blinked her tired eyes and looked around. She couldn't see any of the ponies she had been with. Behind her, the cottage was in pieces on the ground. The walls had caved in, and bits of mangled wood were scattered around like debris.
"Luna?" she said, putting her legs out in front of herself and standing up.
Nothing but empty silence. She flicked her ears and looked around, frowning with concern. Where was everypony? What exactly had happened when Celestia had used her spell on Luna? Derpy stared down at her neck, taking a ragged breath as she stared at where her necklace had once been. Where it had gone, she hadn't a clue. One minute it was there, the next it was gone.
A deep crack was carved into the earth, coming straight from somewhere in the distance and stretching right across the hills. It created a fissure that was many meters across. It was an impossible jump for a unicorn or Earth pony. Derpy trotted closer and closer to the crumbling edge, until she was staring across and down into the darkness. It seemed to go on forever, an abyss scored deep into the heart of Equestria.
She wiggled her haunches and went to stretch her wings, but something felt strange. The muscles she wanted to flex and contract in the usual motion of flapping her wings was nothing but her mind tensing her back muscles. She whipped around, her one uncovered eye glaring at her flat smooth spine.
"My wings!" she shrieked to the open sky.
Without her flight, Derpy was trapped on one side of the abyss. She growled and stomped her hooves, looking around desperately for signs of life. A small moan of anger escaped her, and she bit down hard to stop herself from yelling.
"Derpy Hooves," a smooth voice called to her, gentle and slow, "It happened to you to."
The gray mare turned around quickly and blinked up at the tall white pony heading towards her. It was Princess Celestia, but she had no horn or wings, making her look rather different. She smiled as Derpy bowed to her, but shook her head gently.
"This is no time for Royal etiquette. Equestria is in danger."
Derpy tensed, and she stared up at Celestia, warmth gathering under her eyepatch and making her fur sweat. "Where is Luna?" she ventured.
"My sister's heart was overcome by a great power. A power strong enough to remove my wings and horn, as well as yours, and every other pony I have encountered."
"You mean the others are safe?" Derpy let herself breathe a sigh of relief. "That's all that counts right now. Nopony got hurt."
Celestia's eyes looked unsure, and she stared down at Derpy as if she was mentally battling something. "Discord is behind all of this. I called Luna to my aid when the creation of the new element released him from his stone state. Unfortunately, he overtook her mind and sent her right back to try and convince you that you were also unloved, but that did not work. Luna was weak to his mind games. You had the love of Dinky by your side, and with that, you were protected."
Warmth flared right through Derpy, and she grinned, eye sparkling. "Dinky! Did you see her? Is she okay?"
The emotion Celestia had been struggling to hide broke though, and she was washed over with a look of distress. "I'm sorry, Derpy Hooves. Discord is too strong. His power over Luna forced me to send her to the one place I was familiar sending her to. As for Dinky... he took her because she was the source of your power."
Derpy stared at the Princess for a long time, shocked, angry, scared, and overall powerless. Without Dinky the hope she had prospered had slipped away. That was what Discord wanted. But the news about Luna was even worse. There was only one place the previous Princess could have been sent to protect Equestria. The moon.
"We can get through this," Celestia soothed, "Follow me back to the others, and I can explain to you what happened to Equestria."
After a moment of hesitation, Derpy nodded and stepped in beside her Princess, comforted by the hopeful tone she had used. The fate of Equestria wasn't quite lost. They still had each other, but it would take the strength from all of their hearts to save their loved ones.
"So we're only missing Luna and Dinky?" Derpy inquired as they walked quietly across the flattened grass.
Celestia nodded, eyes grave. "Luckily, yes. Everyone else found their way back eventually."
"So no-one was on the other side of the crack..."
"That side is Discord's side. Last time he created a type of chaos that was simply annoying and hard to live with. Considering that failed, he took on a darker approach of creating a blacker sort of chaos. It's not the sort of environment that is only hard to live in, it's the kind that you can't live in. That is why we must bring things back to normal before somepony gets hurt."
So this isn't as simple as the first time. Derpy conjured, glancing at Celestia once, then back at the track ahead. She could see a few shapes at the edge of the dead trees, stripped of their leaves, their life. The ground was all bare or coated in flattened, dead grass. The sky was stone gray, and the air was warm and stifling.
"What about the Elements of Harmony?" Derpy said, tapping the crystal on her armor that had once been covered by her necklace.
Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, pausing in her tracks. "They were all taken along with Dinky. The only one that remains is very far away."
Derpy tipped her head on the side, blinking her uncovered eye. "How far away?"
"The moon."
Crouched in a small rezervoir, the ponies that had gathered earlier for the days events were tirelessly twisting and turning in the discomfort of the dry, rough terrain. Derpy halted when Celestia did, her eye wandering over her distressed friends, all missing wings or horns. All seemed hopeless, for what could Derpy do? Discord was in bliss on the other side of Equestria, which was separated from them by a gouge right through the centre of the earth.
A blue pony came galloping towards Derpy, tail trailing out behind her. She skid to a halt, dipping her head briefly to the Princess, then looking hopefully into Derpy's eyes. Trixie. "He's taken Dinky! The mongrel! She was with me, but he took her away."
The desperation in the unicorn's voice- now without her horn- was enough to make Derpy sigh and nuzzle her gently. "I will get her back. We will do this, together." The words Luna had promised to her the day they had become elements of their own echoed in her head. Everything seemed so far away now, so impossible, with Luna on the moon, as well as the necklace that bore her element.
"How exactly do we do this though?" Trixie breathed, sitting down in a huff.
With a glance at Celestia, who was staring at both of the mares, eyes slanted, Derpy raised her head, pulling her helmet off and placing it beneath one hoof to push herself up a little. "There will be a way, we cannot assume this is the end. Dinky and Luna need us. Not just me, us. "
There was silence from all around, and everypony looked rather wary. Some were unsure, others scared and unwilling to leave where they were until the chaos was over. But chaos was all that was going to be created until Discord was stopped. Derpy sighed and looked down at the ground, hot tears welling in her eyes. She needed a sign. She pleaded for something, but it never came. Her hope for a rainbow to show her the way was chased away by the world of doom they were now in. This was not the same Equestria, where miracles were easily part of life.
A warm muzzle pressed against her, and Derpy glanced sideways to see Celestia leaning against her, face full of warmth. "Your words are courageous, but your heart is scared."
The gray mare nodded solemnly, eyes grave. She looked up into Celestia's alabaster face, summoning her deepest courage to meet the tall Princess eye for eye, even if the patch covered one of her own. They nodded to each other, the tiniest ember of hope showing through the wet ashes.
"Ponies," Celestia called to the nervous crowd. "Do not fear. While Discord has resorted to a chaos unlike his first attempt, one that makes life unbearable, you must hold in. I will be travelling with Derpy Hooves to find out where exactly Discord is hiding himself. We will restore harmony to Equestria."
The spread of pride and hopefulness that ignited over the faces of the ponies filled Derpy with joy. She glanced at Celestia, constantly shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. "What if we go to Canterlot, get the Elements of Harmony from the vault? All we have to do is find the ponies, right?"
Celestia quickly looked down at her, and hushed her with a big shhh! "All of the Elements are gone, remember? Not just yours. I have no idea where they are, just that Discord is behind it."
"Hey, I'm coming with you!" Trixie suddenly snapped Derpy's gaze away from the Princess. "I'm not going to sit around listening to these ponies complain while you are doing something to help."
"I'm not sure if that is a good idea..." The Princess mumbled, glancing at Derpy.
The gray mare shook her head, standing beside Trixie. "No, Trixie is coming. If I've learnt anything about friendship, it's to stick together. If Luna hadn't been alone this morning, things could of turned out better. From now on, we have to remember that safety is in numbers."
Celestia smiled softly and nodded, glancing at Trixie. "I guess we could do with the extra assistance."
Derpy could sense that her voice was laced with uncertainty, but she had no doubts herself about where Trixie's loyalties lay. If they were going to rescue Luna and Dinky, Trixie would make sure they did it from start to finish, no questions asked.
"Come on, there is no time to waste."
***
The air was brisk and dry. Derpy shivered and kicked a pebble along the path with every few strides she took, trailing along behind Celestia who had a much bigger gape that she did, taking long steps and hurriedly walking towards the crack. Trixie kept the slow pace with Derpy, snug under her cape. Though Equestria looked rather like a barren desert at the moment, it was deadly cold.
Teeth chattering, Derpy, looked up and squinted, spotting the jagged line of the abyss not far in front. Celestia quickened her pace, cantering forward and halting beside the edge, dangerously close, hooves skidding and sending gravel hissing over the edge. Derpy and Trixie stood beside her, staring down into the darkness. From close up, the descending crack looked darker and wider than from a few steps back. To cross, Derpy would have to jump a dozen meters or so.
"How do you suppose we're going to cross?" Trixie said slowly, taking a step backwards, feeling heavy and nauseous from the height.
"There is no safe way to cross without wings or magic," Celestia conceded, turning and trotting along the edge as if there wasn't the danger of her slipping and falling a certainly fatal plunge down.
Derpy sighed and rubbed her eyes, pushing her eyepatch to the side of her head and blinking, her other eye adjusting to the light. She bounded forward to catch up with Celestia, glancing up at the Princess, who said no more. Trixie kept flicking her ears, as if she was trying to use her horn, but was only moving the other things on her head.
"Wait here," Derpy said, skidding to the edge of the crack, staring down into the pitch black nervously.
"What are you doing?" Celestia said, trotting towards her and following her gaze into what seemed like a never-ending fall. "Be careful."
Derpy closed her eyes and held out one hoof. "All for one."
The two mares blinked at her, glanced at each other, then back at Derpy. "Huh?"
She hissed and waved her leg about. "All for one!"
Celestia tipped her head on one side, eyes brim with confusion. Beside her, the blue mare pushed past, lifting up a hoof and reaching over to touch it to Derpy's. "And one for all!"
"All for one!" Derpy cried again.
"And one for all!" Trixie repeated.
Celestia reached out one gentle hoof and touch it to each of her companions, glancing between them anxiously. All of them were silent, hooves touching very slightly.
"All for one." Derpy whispered.
Trixie and Celestia shared a glance, then they nodded togethered. "And all for one."
You trust each other. You're in synch. Derpy thought to herself, smiling. Without opening her eyes she took a wonky step forward, then threw herself off the edge, hoping the deep willing of her friends calling within her, along with the call that pulled her into the darkness, was true, and that this leap wouldn't lead her to her ultimate doom.
The cold sharp air tugged at every loose part on Derpy. She tucked her legs in as tight as she could as she plummeted. She fell so fast there was no chance to hear the exclaims of her friends back up at the top. She was spiraling for the dark bottom, and there was no way she could come back up.
The faster she fell, the more pressure built up against her face and body, pressing her eyelids and her lips back. She slowly pushed her front legs out to point forward, opening her mouth slightly to accept the wild air throwing back against her, as if it was trying to get her to go back. But Derpy had no wings to rely on, she just had to keep falling.
Suddenly, there was a rush of wind, strong enough to send Derpy backwards, then freefalling forwards again, her control of the fall lost. She let out a strangled scream as she thrashed her legs in the open air, and felt as if she was falling faster than ever down the abyss.
There was an explosion, louder than anything she'd ever heard before, and a wide disk of light rose up from the darkness and battled her with a gale of colors that changed rapidly. Something hit her at speed, knocking the wind right out of her. Suddenly, she was being lifted right up again at a speed that pressed her flat at whatever was rising from the depths, a bright arch of colors streaming out behind them. It wasn't long before she saw the light of day, and was flying past Celestia and Trixie, who stared up, amazed, as she continued to be carried into the clouds.
"Derpy?" A voice exclaimed.
She looked down to see exactly what she had been hit by. Rainbow Dash! The blue Pegasus was carrying a rainbow right across Equestria- or what was left of Equestria, rather- pushing Derpy along with her strength.
"H-how are you here? Why? Your wings..." Derpy said, breathless, too choked with excitement to talk properly.
Rainbow Dash descended to the ground, ending the rainbow neatly and landing, Derpy sliding off her face and lying on the ground, panting with exhilaration. The white and blue shapes of Derpy's pals came rushing towards them. Dash bowed instantly to the Princess, then looked up and gaped.
"Princess Celestia! Where are your wings and horn?" She exclaimed.
Celestia sighed and lowered her head to Rainbow's level. "Discord has taken just about everyone's." She mumbled.
The wings that were perfectly in shape on Rainbow's back fluttered a little, then folded against her back. Derpy had never wished so much to be able to fly. She moaned and stared up at the sky, but her anger was wiped away as she stared straight up into the arching rainbow overhead.
"It's the sign..." She whispered, having a flashback of being back in the forest, with Luna. They had been crouching in the cool, eyes full of tears, hearts lost of hope. But they'd looked up through the trees and seen the faintest of rainbows, and Derpy had known from that moment that it was a sign of hope, that things would be right again. She was sure of it this time too, this rainbow was not just bringing hope, it was bringing harmony.
"Where are the other elements? The other ponies?" Derpy said, turning to face Rainbow Dash.
"Back down in that horrible place. None of us could fly or use magic to get out, so I Sonic Rainboomed my way out. But now I have to try and get them back, I wont move on without them."
Derpy nodded gently, staring across at the crack, still taunting to her. What would of happened if she hadn't been carried back up to the top, she didn't want to think. A shiver passed right through her spine, and she blinked gently at Trixie, who had remained quiet the whole time.
"We'll save everyone." She vowed, her eyes staring at Derpy.
The gray mare nodded back, then swept her gaze over Celestia and Rainbow Dash. "We need Rainbow Dash to help us cross the abyss. We can't save the others right now, not your friends, not Dinky, not Luna, until we defeat Discord."
"What if the crack closes up when, or if, we defeat Discord?" Trixie said slowly, imagining the five ponies still down there.
Derpy flicked her ears and slid her eyepatch back on where it had slipped away, blinking slowly. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Rainbow Dash stared at them hopelessly, but Derpy, Celestia, and Trixie set off at a varying pace, holding their heads high, eyes shining with courage. The blue pony was scared to the bone, but she hurried after them, knowing she was the only way for them to cross into Discord's land.
They followed the line until they reached a point where the abyss looked noticeably thinner, but nonetheless still taunting and impossible to jump. Rainbow shivered and stepped onto the edge. She spread her wings and beat them a few times until she was hovering. She lifted Trixie up, struggling to keep a grip on the mare, then she fluttered across gently with strong beats of her wings. She set Trixie down on the ground, and to Derpy's amazement, the moment the blue mare touched the ground, her horn flashed back into place.
Celestia's eyes widened. "He thought to stop us from having our powers on this side, but not on the side he is? Once I get over there, he'll be stone forever!" She vowed, thrashing her tail.
"Uh..." Rainbow flew back and landed beside Celestia and Derpy. "Princess... how am I going to lift you?"
The Princess of the sun chuckled lightly, to Rainbow Dash's relief. "Take Derpy over, and when she gets her wings, you can both help me. I'll be forever in your debt."
With a giggle, Rainbow carried Derpy easily over, and when her back gave a sudden flourish, and her pretty gray wings appeared again, flexing and fluttering gently, they both flew over and hoisted the larger mare over until she touched the ground and was returned to her Alicorn state.
Celestia bent her head to touch her horn very briefly to Rainbow Dash's head. "Thank you, loyal Pegasus. But there are many ponies in need of help. With Trixie and Derpy's aid, I will go straight to Discord to try and sort this out. I want you to go back to your friends and tell them that there is hope."
Rainbow looked a little disappointed, having hoped that she could of journeyed with the Princess and her two friends to defeat Discord. She sighed and nodded, daring not to disobey the Princess' words."Yes, Celestia."
Derpy brushed up against her gently and smiled. "Remember, this is for our friends."
A smile spread across Rainbow's face. "For Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy."
"For Dinky," Trixie said, blinking her friendly eyes.
"For Luna," Celestia smiled, looking over them proudly.
Derpy nodded, looking from one face to the other, then spreading her wings as much as she could. She pushed the eyepatch off and pulled right out from under her helmet, dropping it to the ground so she could slant both eyes and grin. "For Equestria!"
The farewell was short, and Derpy was the last to turn away as Rainbow Dash disappeared down into the abyss. Trixie walked a few steps behind Celestia, looking a bit irritated. The blue unicorn kept glancing at the sky, then back at the ragged path ahead. Derpy leaned against her, sharing their brief warmth before stepping back into her own gait again.
"I'm not a fan of Princess Celestia," Trixie admitted under her breath.
A small punch of panic hit Derpy, and she stared with wide eyes at her companion. "But she is our Princess. She rules all of Equestria. You don't have to adore her, but remember she is helping us."
"I came to Luna the first time because Celestia wasn't understanding enough. She seems compassionate, but only to her loyal students. She knows about friendship enough to fake it."
What does she mean? Celestia surely wouldn't fake to be my friend? Derpy thought hard, the silence choking her. She wished one of them would speak just to cut the crackling emotions between each of them. The journey was mean't to bring them together, but they were drifting apart. Discord's chaos had gone bone deep this time.
"But Celestia is with us to get Luna back once we end this." Derpy whispered, bounding forward so she was close enough to Trixie for Celestia to not overhear.
"She just wants Equestria back to normal. She knows that her sister is loved now, and she'd be hated herself if she didn't get her back." Trixie sounded convinced, but Derpy wasn't so sure.
It was true that in time Celestia had hurt Luna's feelings, but she was only trying to protect everyone. Luna trusted her sister now, and more than ever did everypony need to get along. Derpy looked down at her hooves, a hole in her heart where Dinky usually filled. She was losing her element, she was losing the love that had tied her so strongly to everypony. The only thing that kept her going was the rainbow, and it hung in her mind the whole way.
You've travelled so far, you must be feeling tired. Said a sickly sweet voice in Derpy's head. It was all too familiar, and she shook it away, raising her head and glaring forward. They must of been getting close.
Both Trixie and Celestia were starting to look unnerved, and Derpy had a good guess that Discord was also trying to sway their train of thought. They could only go on so much farther before something happened, and Derpy didn't want to hang around to find out what.
Feeling lost are we, honey? Poor little Derpy. You were in the lead if I remember... Celestia doesn't think you can find me. Why? Because you're seeing stars as well as the way ahead. Should've left your eyepatch on.
"Shut up!" Derpy yelled outloud, halting and shaking her head angrily, beating her wings as if she could of flown off at that moment.
Trixie stared at her gently and sighed. "Come on. He's getting to all of us. We've just got to battle it."
The gray pegasus sighed and slumped down to her knees, eyes on the ground. She was silent, and she heard the unicorn turn and continue to walk, leaving her behind. A few stinging tears escaped and dropped to the parched earth. Is this really how their journey ended? Deserting each other because there was no sign of Discord besides his taunting voice?
"Derpy Hooves," Celestia's royal voice ruffled her ear fur.
She looked up, drying her eyes with a hoof as she stared up at the regal white Alicorn, who was looking just as exhausted, her shoulders slumping, her eyes dull. They shared a hopeless look, then looked away from each other, watching Trixie head off without them.
"We're getting nowhere." Derpy sobbed. "We need Luna. She always knows what to do..."
"No. It isn't Luna herself that told her what to do next. It was her heart." Celestia leaned down and pressed her horn to Derpy's head. "Follow your heart. You must know where to go next."
Lost, little Derpy Eyes? She gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, digging at the ground with a hoof, shaking the dark voice from her head. With a loud neigh she thundered ahead, straight towards Trixie. My name is Derpy Hooves!
She opened her wings like a parachute blooming and rose right into the sky above Trixie, beating until her muscles screamed and the air was pressing against her. She stared out across the land, eyes glowing through the musky distance.
"Gimme some light!" She called down to Trixie.
A bright light revolved around the blue mare's horn, and it shot upwards, straight past Derpy and exploded like a firework with a brilliant sparkle that lit up the distance. Deep in the murk, the dry land gave way to a scoop in the earth, home to something achingly familiar. Once proud bright walls darkened and black, a black mist writhing around the base. Lightning crackled from the clouds above it.
Canterlot Castle. The palace that once stood astride the mountain side had been moved far away onto the side of the crack, now set in the gorge-like expanse of rock. Derpy stared forward, holding in a gasp of shock. She let herself drop to the ground, folding her wings neatly to her sides as she hit the ground with the click on her hooves on the hard ground.
"I bet my left hoof that Discord is in that castle!" She hissed.
"What castle?" Celestia said, trotting up beside her.
"You're castle. It's been moved, through that mist up ahead."
Celestia paused, and Derpy' could feel her unsure gaze boring into her. "The dark, swirling mist that promises no return?" She said dryly.
"Yes. That exact one. There is no need to fear. If we stick together, we'll get through it. Just like me and Luna did."
She looked up at the white Alicorn, who still looked disapproving, and she stared up with pleading eyes. She wished there was something she could do or say to make things easier, but that was exactly what Discord had prevented. There was no harmony until he was stopped.
"Derpy, it would be much easier to stick together if Trixie hadn't already left into the mist."
What? The gray Pegasus whirled around, looking for the blue unicorn who had been there a moment before. She could just see her approaching the mist, then her pale tail disappearing into it. She stared after her, something inside of her growing very cold. She knew the stubborn unicorn would be unable to face Discord alone, and she could only dread what state she might return to them in.
"Come on Celestia, we have to get her back before she ends up like Luna." She said, stepping forward.
Celestia nodded, eyes searching the obscuring, thick cloud. She followed Derpy forward, only surrounded by the echo of their hoofsteps. Dread hung on both of their shoulders. The journey was only getting harder, and they were no closer to restoring faith for Equestria. Luna was on the moon, Dinky was in Discord's castle, and Trixie was heading into the belly of the beast.
The thick fog was unsettling and hard to breathe it. It tasted like smoke and charcoal, and crept all around, smothering whatever was ahead in choking darkness. Derpy had to place her hooves carefully one after the other to avoid stumbling on the rock hard ground. Celestia walked steadily behind her, her white fur giving a comforting glow through the approaching gloom. Derpy felt like her pelt would fade away into the gray mist, taking her with it, so she stuck close to the white Alicorn.
"Trixie?" She called, voice echoing for what seemed like miles, coming back to her and greeting her with a cold blast of air.
"Derpy, this way!" Celestia hissed, nipping the Pegasus' side before galloping off into the darkness.
Wait! Wait for me... Derpy hurried forward, but the Alicorn was gone. She ran desperately in the same direction, but all scent and sound of the Princess had scattered.
There was unsettling silence as Derpy wandered aimlessly, unsure if she was even heading towards the castle any longer. She let out a whine and fluttered into the air, but it didn't matter how high she rose, the darkness was above and below, and on both sides until she planted her hooves back down on the ground.
"Someone please..." She whispered, lowering her head to snuffle the ground.
I've never wished for a rainbow to show the way so much before. She pleaded in her head, staring up into the ever-shifting cloud layer, golden eyes watery. Cold crept deep into her, and she cried out to the open air, wishing for something. Anything.
"Gone your separate ways, have you?" Said a voice so familiar, Derpy whirled around, eyes widened at the Draconequus that had sprawled himself out in the blanket of soft downy cloud.
She bared her teeth and knelt down, wings fluttering with anger. "Discord! What do you want with us? What is your purpose of bringing chaos to this land?"
He chuckled, inspecting the claws on one of his hands, then smirking at her. "It's more fun, don't you see? I'm done making things annoying, it's better to bring misery!"
When she narrowed her eyes and scraped her hoof against the ground, he went on, waving his lion paw around in a gesture. "To see your sad little heart scraping for hope, is enough to make me shed a tear. But to make you lose that love you rely on is so much fun, disharmony is what I bring in my wake!"
She snarled and leaped at him, kicking her hooves with anger, ears flattened against her skull. He whirled away from her like a snake, and she landed on the ground with an oomph !
"Coward!" She howled, chasing after him, but he was fading away.
"We can't all be heroes."
***
Celestia crouched down, pressing against the bank. The black mist danced above her, but down the slope it cleared out, and she could see the gleaming castle in the bloody light of the sunset. She could see Luna's old guards stationed at every entrance and window. They wouldn't be much of a match for her, but she knew that there would be something more vicious behind the darkened walls.
She peered up over the bank, wishing Derpy would appear at any moment, but the gray Pegasus was nowhere to be found. She let loose a sigh, then got to her hooves and trotted down the rocky slope, ignoring the calls of the guards as they spotted her. The orange and red light of the sunset turned her white coat a swirling yellow shade. She stared up at the guards as they swarmed like flies around the castle, her eyes glowing rose pink.
"For Equestia!" She bellowed, thundering forward with a blast of magical light. She skid into the castle wall and winced, turning to swing her horn at one of the bat-like ponies.
"I'm warning you!" She yelled, eyes just angry slits. "I don't usually resort to violence!"
The stallions, shades of gray from the hypnosis, did not heed her word and charged at her, neighing loudly. She raised her head, and a light burst from her horn, and they went flying back. She stomped her hooves, anger rising deep within her.
"No-one disobeys their Princess!" She neighed, slamming past them and through the heavy doors.
The castle was seemingly abandoned on the inside, but she knew not to let her guard down. Something was up, and she knew it. She stepped lightly through once familiar halls, her eyes tracing the stain-glass windows. She dreaded being separated from both of her companions of the journey, but she couldn't turn back now.
"Hello?" She breathed, stepping into the main room, staring around.
Her heart stammered a little as a ghostly light streamed through the windows, allowing her to know that the sun had sunk below the horizon to be taken over by the night. She explored around, walking down the steps and standing in the middle of the marble floor and staring up at the ceiling.
"Luna... can you hear me?" She said aloud, staring up with tears in her eyes. "Can you understand me?"
"Celestia?" Said a small, terrified voice.
The white Alicorn turned around slowly, eyes widening as she stared at the white light flowing through the window down onto the place where she had once stood to address all of her subjects. Now in her usual place, just a small lavender gray filly unicorn, trembling as she stared at the Princess with wide scared eyes.
Dinky.
