World of Discord 2.0 (RP)

"Theoretically infinite in purging range, and line-of-sight directed range, as far as is currently understood," replied the Queen. "Unfortunately, there is a charging time of up to ten seconds, during which the process can be interrupted, and of course the process cannot begin without the presence of all the Elements at once, in one location. Thus far, the Elements of Harmony have only functioned when the target was distracted or otherwise inattentive, which will be... difficult in a head-on charge, especially if the Enemy takes the threat seriously. If He decides to do so, He can instantly violate any mortal mind and twist it into a vile parody of itself, at any time. That we still exist as we are may be mere coincidence."

"Master's here, not in Neighpon on 'vacation' with His 'daughter'."

"Ah. That explains the lull in chaotic activity, and how you were able to safely come here."

Guru Fido smiled. "We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If you can change yourself, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a pony changes her own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards her. This is the sacred mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is, and the source of great happiness. You need not wait to see what others do. Change yourself, to change the present. Change the present, to change the future. In making your choice to come, you inspired Lady Sandstone to also stand and fight. By your visions and Lady Sandstone's prophecy, you enlightened Lady Apple Pie to the miracle of Laughter's choice.”

The grey mare's eyes widened at this, as she turned and looked at the Queen, then at Candycane.

"A-Apple... Pie? Laughter?"

The grey mare looked like she was in shock. Candycane remembered then; that very morning, the Element of Dishonesty had been there, with all the other Six Minions, slaughtering the very ponies whose bodies she'd seen. And the very same was standing before her. It was little wonder that the mare felt the guilt and weight of the world upon her shoulders; she had to witness ponies who, according to Guru Fido, had been her best friends, embodiments of Harmony, bring forth the merciless will of her dread "Master". Even if she took no part in it herself, and did all she could to help rather than harm, simply being part of the group of chaos-twisted psychopaths, enthralled to the will of the Enemy, was impossible to imagine for a moment, let alone a thousand years.

But Guru Fido only reached out and touched Candycane's hoof with a paw. "Many sorrows must come to pass for salvation to come, as a mare must experience the agony of childbirth to bring forth a foal. Yet, because of your choice, I know that you are strong, strong enough to continue walking this path you have chosen. And I know that you shall soon attain another victory, if you simply lay the seeds of thought to bloom into action," he smiled, looking pointedly between her and the grey mare.

Liarjack the "Kind"? What if...?

The grey mare shook her head, clutching her stetson to her chest. "Ah ain't no monster, Ah'm a hero, a saint. Everythin' good Ah've done outweighs th' bad."

She went silent, eyes far away. "Applebloom..."

"You gave your sister the kindest, most inspiring of ends, old friend."

"But it was all th' truth!"

"It WAS the truth. You simply do not see how true those words will become in time," smiled the diamond dog.

She wiped her eyes, sighing. "It'll happen soon, an' we'll all be happy an' everythin' bad'll go away, th' dead'll come back t' life, an' a li'l filly'll lead us."

Sandstone suddenly spoke up. "Auntie, even tho' ya think it's a lie, that there what ya said, it's true. We'll win, an' sooner than ya think! Th' dead'll come back t' life, an' in a good way, not like Big Banana's zombies, not even like Saint Applebloom, but for real. A filly'll lead us. Ah jes' know it's true! Maybe yer gonna even see yer sis soon, an' see a LOT more'n that too, enough t' make ya see what Ah sees! This world's 'bout t' experience somethin' like never b'fore, an' you'll help us do it! A filly that Laughs in th' face o' sufferin', a mare who's Kind even in despair, a Friend tired o' tragedy, a Loyal mother who won't stop walkin' fer her daughter, a Generous dragon who'll stay by his foster parent's side, an Honest lady tired o' lies. It's like a Wheel, an' at th' end, we'll end somethin' that's been goin' on too long, an' even save th' Big Banana from Himself, changin' hearts, changin' minds, savin' souls."

The grey mare stood up, knocking over her own chair and backing up into a corner of the room as the filly spoke, flinching as her words continued. Sparks of orange color, like fire, flickered at the near edge of her coat, and the words seemed to shake the world, just as they did last night with the first prophecy, though Sandstone didn't notice.

Guru Fido and Queen Cadence were calm with the peace of a thousand years of practice. Lord Thorax's eyes were wide as his carapace seemed to glow even brighter with rainbow light which pulsed with each word. The Element of Dishonesty, however, was quaking, partially in pain, partially in sheer terror, and tears were streaming down her face as she whispered something.

That was the line at which the farmpony gently pushed Candycane away, shaking her head.

"Undo everythin'? Shore, that kin happen. Bring back Applebloom, make all them dead ponies alive again, make th' last thousand years never happen. Shore ain't what Master promised Dash."

She sighed, putting her stetson back on and bowing to the Queen.

"No thanks t' you fer th' food, stingy witch. Ah'll be stayin', fer now. Straight home t' Master, not out in th' gardens. Ain't need no time t' think."

The Queen nodded with understanding. "We're always here for you, old friend."

The mare gave something resembling a smile, and disappeared out the doorway, heading for the gardens. Guru Fido shook his head.

"That mare is so enmeshed in lies, she even believes the greatest lie of all, that there is no hope for redemption. But perhaps..."

"...Ah understands it all now."

Eyes turned to Sandstone as she stared into nothingness.

"Her sister. Kindness. A tunnel. A vision. The Mirror. The Truth. The Darkness. The Father."

She turned and grabbed Candycane.

"Ya hafta help her! Follow her, but don't interfere 'till it's time. It's slippin' away..."

Changeling guards rushed forwards and caught the staggering filly, and Guru Fido turned to the mare. "Your part may be greater than we thought, Lady Candycane. Go after the Element of Dishonesty. See what it is that Lady Sandstone has prophesied. If it is what I think it is, we may be on the verge of another victory. All we need now is to watch and assist, and One greater than we could even imagine will bring forth a miracle not seen since ancient times."

As she followed the grey mare into the depths of the gardens of Avalon, mists seemed to form above the deep pools where Luna's last stars lay, giving an ethereal, dreamlike quality to the place. For a brief instant, so brief it might have just been her imagination, Candycane thought she saw a light flash from beyond the sky, beyond space and time, but when she looked, there was only fog. The deep scent of pine and cedar and willow wafted through the warm breeze, and dancing lights played at the edge of her vision, just out of focus. The mare in front of her didn't seem to notice until they both heard a sound, like a giggling filly, echoing and ephemeral.

"...Applebloom?"

The giggling got louder, and the vague image of a little yellow-coated filly with a red mane and bow seemed to flicker just beyond sight, a whimsical skeleton painted on her features.

"Come on Applejack! Are ya old or somethin'? Catch me if ya can!"

The mare stared for a moment, then charged forward, orange seeping into the grey of her coat.

"Come on Applebloom! Get back here little filly! And whatcha doin' coverin' yerself with glow in the dark paint like that! Granny Smith is gonna give ya such a whoppin'!"

"Come and try ta catch me!" the glowing little filly laughed as she skipped along the increasingly foggy and maze-like paths of the gardens. She stuck her tongue out at the orange-grey mare before running off again.

"Lalalala-lalala!"

"Leave the singin' ta Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom! Now stay still, tarnation!"

"Ya said stay still, so ya must mean ya want me ta move faster!"

"Ah ain't lyin'!"

"So that meant ya are lyin'!" The filly just kept laughing, leading them deeper and deeper into the fog, towards the very heart of the gardens, where a circle of cedars stood in the spitting image of Ponehenge.