World of Discord 2.0 (RP)

The Queen smiled, nodding as Sandstone trotted up to support the mare.

"Ah'm here t' help too! Ah don't know how, but whatever Ya need, Ah'll do it! If Ah could make this place real fer everyone, not jes' mah family, but th' whole world, Ah'll do anythin'!"

The alicorn looked from one pony to the next, meeting each of their eyes.

"Then you choose freely, of your own free will, to carry out this task. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside into other paths, as chance allows. The further you go, the less easy will it be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road. This battle will not be one of might or magic of your own, though battles may come, and indeed, shall come, and bring suffering and death with it. But that, you must leave to the capable, who shall surely join you on your quest. Your task is only to bring the Bearers together, both new and old, and thus defeat the Enemy and restore the world, not through force or strength of arms, but through the magic of Friendship and Harmony."

She gestured towards the silver pool in the center of the gardens. "Though your visions were received only last night, once more the Wheel turns, and things have changed. If you wish, you may yet discover what has come to pass, and what may yet be."

The Queen nodded. "And you are wise to understand the perils of foresight, Candycane, for all too many view it as a gift rather than a burden, though in the hooves of the wise, it can be both."

She turned and gestured towards the palace.

"Perhaps we could discuss more inside. I've prepared one of the meeting rooms for us, along with breakfast, which I'm sure you're looking forward to. Perhaps you would be interested in seeing what Old Equestrian food was like, Sandstone? We have living quarters prepared as well, and supplies for your journey, if you wish to take them."

Sandstone's belly rumbled at the mention of food, and she blushed almost as pink as the alicorn, folding her ears back.

"T-that'd be nice, y-yer Majesty."

She looked at Candycane for confirmation.

They entered the gates of the Crystal Palace, and beheld the majesty of Avalon made manifest. The entire structure shone with the brilliance of gems, yet seemed to grow organically, as a plant from a seed. Great pillars like trees held high aloft the unmatched artistry of the ceiling, wrought with silver and gold, and the floors were like unto a glassy sea, carpeted down the center with some finely-woven cloth as fine as silk and as soft as down. Many plants and vines grew everywhere, adding life and greenery to the beauty of crystal. Quiet music could be heard from an artistically designed chamber they were fast approaching, and through the vines encircling the windows, the odor of fresh bread and other good food could be smelled.

They entered the room, and the changeling guards moved silently to each side, bowing deeply to the guests. Some virgacorns and hippogriffs in a corner were playing an enchanting melody on harps and flutes; they likewise turned and bowed to their Queen, though they did not cease their playing.

A long table stretched down the center of the hall, laden with many plates of food beyond anything Sandstone could ever have imagined living on her little farm. Several chairs were already set for the guests, with plates and crystal cups of clear, fresh water and the juices of many fruits. Tapestries, embroidered over the many centuries Avalon had existed, hung on walls to either side, depicting a time before suffering, and two regal unicorn Sisters who once watched over Their Little Ponies in a time long forgotten.

A small tray of bowls and wash-cloths were brought forward, for cleansing of both body and soul before the meal. The Changeling Queen, without hesitation, humbly turned to Her guests, and began to gently wash away the dust of much travel and the stains of many years' suffering.

"Here within the Hidden Land of Avalon may you find peace and rest, My Little Ponies. May this be a refuge for you, and a home to you, for the time you are with us, and whenever you choose to return," she said softly as she did so.

The cleansing water seemed to wash away the last vestiges of unease and horror lingering in Candycane from this morning, replacing it with calm determination and resolve to never allow such atrocity to ever happen again. Though her soul would never again be innocent and unsullied by the knowledge of death, still the experience now seemed to strengthen her rather than weaken, maturing her character and adding to the wisdom of her heart.

Moonlight, also, felt her terror and uncertainty fade with each drop of water, and her two halves, though never fully one, were at peace. Far from tearing her apart, her memories served now as guides to her new life, shining a light upon the path she willingly chose.

As for what Sandstone experienced, a mere glance at her face was enough to convey the disbelief, joy, sorrow, and bliss this experience bestowed upon her.

Once the guests had been cared for, they were led to their places at the great table, and all the bounties of Avalon, fruits and vegetables and breads and pastries, candies and treats of all descriptions were brought to them, theirs to eat to their heart's content.

Sandstone nodded speechlessly, still overwhelmed by the experiences that had brought her thus far as the Queen stood and went to the head of the table, breaking a loaf of bread and raising a glass of juice.

"To Friendship, and to Harmony."

Guru Fido stood from his place, raising his own glass. "To Friendship and Harmony!"

Sandstone clumsily picked up her cup with both hooves, but succeeded, sipping of her juice and almost choking when the first sensations hit her tongue, the indescribable mixture of sweetness and just the right amount of tart blended into a cool refreshment she'd have never thought possible outside a chaos storm.

The Queen smiled at Candycane's politeness, and gestured for her to eat and partake, which Sandstone did wholeheartedly. Guru Fido actually had to remind her of her surroundings before she could start stuffing herself, but the Queen simply laughed softly, bidding the filly eat as she wished. That being said, she quickly grew a bit shy, and moderated herself from then on.

The diamond dog, for his part, picked and chose expertly from the dishes presented, having visited plenty of times and, like Grandpa, lived an ageless life in his crystalline body. Though he most likely couldn't taste most of the dishes the way the flesh-and-blood guests could, he still helped himself to both traditional foods and more "modern" varieties in the form of dragon gems and other delicacies otherwise unsuitable for pony consumption, despite their lovely appearance. The cooks of Avalon catered to all needs, for refugees came often from the outside world whenever lulls in chaos storms occurred, and the Hidden Land had seen its fair share of chaos-twisted beings, each with their own needs and accommodations.

Queen Cadence chose some of each dish for Her own plate, in small amounts, enjoying the variety of tastes and textures and making a mental note to thank the chefs personally later in the day, with individual suggestions to each. She gazed thoughtfully at the destined few before Her, so ready and eager to give their all to save this world, even without strength as others might measure it. Her thought turned to those outside Her realm, as it often did, and especially to the Minions, the lost souls stolen by the Enemy and made into His pawns. The board was set, and the pieces were moving, and She intended for at least two of those pawns to fall into Her lap soon. It was merely a matter of timing and presentation, and already, She could sense one approaching...

Guru Fido hid a grin with a paw. "Would you like some recommendations, Lady Candycane? Unique as individual tastes may be, I would expect a pony from Old Equestria to have rather specific culinary preferences."

He pointed out a few more pony-appropriate dishes, and how to eat them properly with traditional utensils and an untwisted flesh-and-blood body. For their part, the musicians and other guests were too polite to say anything, though Sandstone might have giggled a bit, before making some of the same mistakes herself - much of the food here was new to her, as well, having grown up and lived all her life in a farmhouse.

Queen Cadence simply smiled patiently, nudging a few of the serving plates with a practiced casual air, such that only the most observant, and those familiar with Her mannerisms, would notice how the less equine-friendly items were moved out of reach of the ponies and more traditional fruits and vegetables were moved closer.

Having satisfied Herself with the current table arrangement, She seemed to adopt a faraway look, Her eyes glowing slightly with a rainbow sheen, before She gracefully, but somewhat abruptly, stood.

"I must apologize, My honored guests, but there is a matter I must take care of. I should be back shortly. Guru Fido, Lord Thorax, if you would please join Me. I sense that she comes in peace, but..."

The diamond dog and changeling looked at each other, then stood and bowed to the Queen.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Your wish is my command, my Queen."

They approached the alicorn, and with a burst of rainbow fire, they vanished.

Sandstone only looked up with mild curiosity, but seeing as that nothing else had changed, the magic of Avalon remained stable, and she didn't start having an urge to spout prophecy, she shrugged and continued eating, occasionally glancing at Candycane to see if the mare was worried.

The remaining guests continued on with their meal for some time, and they were almost full when another rainbow flash lit up the room momentarily, and the music and feasting abruptly stopped.

Guru Fido and Lord Thorax stood by, cautious, but calm. The changeling guards very slightly tensed, but a few centuries of prolonged contact had improved relations to the point of... not trust, but rather a sort of anti-trust. As for the Queen, She seemed to radiate Harmony magic even stronger than before, to the point that the air should have been ringing with soul-searing choruses of impossible chords which built on themselves into infinite, unknowable frequencies. But it did not; rather, it only barely suppressed the... well, it wasn't exactly a VOID per se, but it wasn't even mostly harmony. And the pony standing there...

It would've been nice if she were beautiful, clean, orange as the sunrise, with a look of perfect honesty upon her face. It would've been nice if she had a mane the color of golden straw, eyes like green apples, playful freckles dotting her cheeks. It would've been nice for her to stand up with pride and confidence, having visited many times before, an honored guest of Avalon, some sort of champion of hope.

But it was a lie.

Ears folded back, tail tucked between her legs, dusty grey stetson hat folded across her penitent chest, the grey mare bowed with a thousand year's worth of guilt on her shoulders, some deserved, some not. Some called her a coward. Many called her a saint. But all knew her by a name that had been seared into Moonlight and Candycane's minds.

Liarjack the Kind, Element of Dishonesty.

The mare looked around the silent room, too ashamed to meet anypony's eyes, though her gaze lingered momentarily on Sandstone, Moonlight and Candycane before returning to stare at the ground.

"Ah'm mighty proud t' break in an' enter here. Ah demands yer welcome. Ah deserve every bit o' food ya got, it's jes' what's fair after what Ah've done. Ah'll tell Master all 'bout this place, where it is, what y'all kin do. Y'all as greedy an' stingy as Greedity, havin' me here."

"You're welcome, Applejack. Please don't belittle yourself so. You've done more than enough to earn our gratitude."

Tears rolled down the mare's face.

"That's mah name, sure as sugar it is. Anythin' good Ah did sure outweight everythin' bad, o'course, sure, let's talk about that."

"If that is what you wish. You know that I am always here to speak with you."

The grey mare shook her head.

"'Course Ah don't know. Mean's Ah'm all ripe an' ready t' go yammerin' an' talkin', don't need no time."

"Sometimes, there is never a right time, old friend," smiled Guru Fido with compassion. "Sometimes, one simply needs to let go, accept the past for what it is, good and bad, and begin the long process of healing. But there will be time to discuss this later, as Her Majesty said. Come, join us."

"No thanks t' you, idiot," bowed the mare, flicking her eyes over to the Queen, Who nodded Her head. Candycane found herself seated directly across from both the grey mare and Guru Fido, while Lord Thorax returned to his earlier seat.

"Lady Candycane, Lady Sandstone, Lady Moonlight, this is..." said the diamod dog uncertainly.

"Applejack, Element o' Honesty," said the mare.

"As you wish. Liarjack the Kind, Element of Dishonesty."

"Ah said a whole ton 'bout bein' kind an' all."

"My old friend, you may say what you like about your past. But I believe fully that, while you may not realize or acknowledge it, your kindness is more than worthy of being told to others," said the diamond dog with finality. The grey mare sighed.

"Great dishonor t' meetcha, Miss Candycane, Miss Sandstone, Miss Moonlight."