Unforeseen Consequences - The chaos carnival (pt6)

>Was this the real way to achieve true happiness? It certainly sounded like it…Starlight may be right… everything that she has said so far sounds like something that would bring peace and joy to everyone…
>Still, you had a question regarding all of this…
“But…why me? I-I’m just a colt…how could I be useful for something like this?”
>”My dear Anon, you must not think so low about yourself” Starlight hugs you tighter as she keeps stroking your mane “Remember that equality is all about not being inferior or superior to others. And you can start by telling your friends and loved ones about the beauty of our way, of our true harmony.”
“M-My loved ones?”
>Starlight nuzzles her muzzle on yours “Mmhmm! I’m sure that your mothers will be delighted to hear about your new understanding about how harmony should be. About how much happiness a world of pure equality would bring to everypony in Equestria”
“I-I see…b-but what about…you know… the whole thing about changing cutie marks?”
>”Don’t worry about that, okay? I’ll handle those details later on, for now you just have to focus on spreading the word. Your work shall be to open everypony’s eyes and see the error on their ways, and who knows…”Starlight breaks the hug and gives you a little smirk “Maybe in time, you might even manage to convince Discord”
>You nuzzle into Starlight chest…thoughts weren’t flowing in your head. You were taking everything that she was saying as face value.
“I-I think that I could do that…y-yeah, I’m definitely sure that I could do that!”
>”That’s attitude! So tell me Anon, I know that the answer is clear buuuut” Starllight lets out a giggle “Are you going to help me to make an Equestria that is based on equality a reality for everypony?”
>You smile at her, the answer was clear… this was for the best… this was the best way to give Luna and Celestia the life that they always wanted…
>But if that’s the case…then why are you hesitating to say yes to her?
>”I’m sure that if we work together like one big unit, mistakes like this caused just because ponies are different won’t happen ever again” Starlight points to where Celestia…to where your mother was lying on the ground…crying…alone
“Mom…”
>Your eyes become fixated on the scene, as much pain as it brought you to witness this…you simply couldn’t look to the other side… even when a big part of you wanted to do this… even when your mind was screaming that everything was logical, and that this was the right choice…You couldn’t take your eyes from Celestia and tell Starlight that indeed, you were going to help her…
>Celestia…your mother… she was there… alone…
>Starlight takes notice that you weren’t paying attention to her anymore and decides to ask ”Anon? What’s wrong?”
>But an answer to the question never comes. You break the hug and start walking towards Celestia. Your heart was racing and your head was pounding, but you didn’t care… She was sobbing but as you get close to her, you notice that she kept repeating the same words over and over…
 “M-mom...”
>You lie on the ground and try to nuzzle under her chin…but you phase right through her…
>”Anon, my dear… you know that’s not your actual mother…come on, we have to go now” Starlight tries to calm you with a soft voice and with a hug, but you reject that affection almost like a reflex…
“No…”
>”I believe, I won’t give up on you, Luna… I believe in you… I believe…” Celestia kept repeating to herself with more intensity than before
 >You knew that this was just a glimpse of the past…a memory of what happened, you knew that this was nothing but a sick illusion… but that didn’t matter to you … this was something that actually happened … and in a way, that was still your mother… and she just got her heart shattered to pieces.
>”Anon…” Starlight sighs “I think that-“
 >”You hear me Luna?!” Celestia suddenly gets up and clears her tears, you could feel that fire came out from her eyes “I won’t give up! Even if it takes me until the end of time, I shall bring you back! I didn’t lie when I said that I believe in a brighter future! And I promise you that I will do my best to amend this… I swear that everything will be okay!”
>This part… you never saw this when you were in that collection of memories that Luna showed you…. Those ended after Luna got banished…
>Starlight realizes something as she tries to pull you back to her ”Anon, I think that it’s time to go, we have a lot of work to do and-“ You shrug off Starlight, keeping your attention on Celestia
“No… I want to see this…”
>Celestia walks towards the destroyed balcony ”I know that it’s too late, but I now realize the error in my ways… in everypony way! I can’t promise that it will be easy or that it will be fast…but I believe that everypony will learn from this tragedy, that this will make us stronger…that this will make YOU stronger… we just have to believe…” Celestia had her attention locked on the moon
>”Anon, come on!” Starlight pulls you harder, but this time you teleport away from her.
“I said no!”
>You wanted, no… you NEEDED to hear this. Celestia stands tall and powerful, some tears were still running across her cheeks, but her eyes…that determination started to ignite your own heart.
 >”We have to believe in each other… no matter the path of life that they decided to walk… no matter where they came from… no matter how different their destiny is from ours… we have to embrace that with an open heart! When we lost sight on that… we allowed this to happen, but that won’t happen ever again!” Celestia’s horn glows making way to a beautiful twilight “We just need to have faith…”
>You can feel a strange sensation starting to take over you…
“We need…to have faith”
>Starlight rushes to your side ”I said that we have to go Anon! We don’t need to see this!” She was… angry? Why?
>But that didn’t matter, you were already set. Something was calling out for you, and you needed to answer that calling.
“You are wrong….you are dead wrong…”
>Starlight tilts her head backwards and scowls at your answer ”What?! Anon, what’s wrong? Did you just forget about the suffering that your mothers had to endure? Come on, we have to go now, or do you want this to happen again?”
>You are sure that your mind has an answer for that but at the same time it wasn’t really clear what it was… the only thing that you were sure was that uncovering that answer was now your number one priority
“I-I…”
>Starlight taps her hoof on the ground, getting a little more desperate “Well, Anon? What is your answer?”
“I…I don’t know… but… at the same time I do… it’s weird, but the only thing that I’m sure it’s that I have to see more… I have to see much more…No, I’m sure that I need to see much more than this…”
>”And what would that be? I already showed you everything that you needed to see” Starlight waves her hoof to emphasize the destroyed room “The suffering and pain that differences can happen. What else do you need to see?”
>And she had a point, she really did, but the feeling that Celestia ignited with her words… it was getting stronger. You still weren’t sure what it was, but you feel like it was calling for you…waiting for you, and  you had to find out what it was… your whole life depended on that, you were sure
“I don’t know… but I’m going to find out!”
>And when you say those words your horn lights up as you get enveloped in your own magical aura in a way like you have never seen before or even feel before.
>Up until now, every time that you used magic, the sensation that it gave you could be described as an electrical sensation running through your body but this time it was completely different…you would even dare to say that it was the exact opposite…
>Your magic was feeling like if you were enveloped in a perfectly warm and soft blanket, it gave you a sense of security and confidence in a way that you have never felt before… it was time to go, you had to this alone…
“Starlight, I’m sorry but I’m going!”
>”Don’t do it! You will only end up hurting yourself if you continue with this! But don’t worry, I won’t let that happen to you my dear Anon!  I shall fix this!” Her horn begins to glow, but she doesn’t achieve anything time “What! Why it’s not working!
>Starlight tries again, this time with more strength than before, but she fails once more. But… it seems that she realized something because her eyes open wide and you could tell that she got scared for something.
>Starlight tries one more time, this time her face changes to one of pure horror  “No, it can’t be! The elements... they are…No… it’s not them…but if they are not doing this then what’s going on?! Anon!”
>Starlight reaches to you but your magical aura surrounds you in an even stronger shield, preventing her from getting to you. And just before she could try anything else, you are transported to a world of complete darkness…
“W-Where am I? Starlight? H-Hello?”
>But you don’t get an answer, only pure darkness. You get up and start walking in hopes to find an exit, but no matter how much you explore this empty space, you can’t find what you were looking for, this darkness was seemingly infinite…
>After a few moments of walking aimlessly, a light breaks through the darkness like a hot knife would do through butter. Finally, an exit! You run towards the light and…
>You saw yourself…well, a past version of you that was sitting in one of the study chairs… you remember this… it happened yesterday… it was after you left the throne room with your mother…
>This only raised more questions than answers. Your mind was starting to start coming up with hypothesis again
“Why was I brought up here? Did I screw it up when I got away from Starlight? I don’t understand why this has any-“
>Celestia holds her hoof, making you shut up, well…the two of you. You remember that you were talking about something related to your progress in magic and got kinda depressed because of that…
>But for some reason you can’t remember what your mom told you at that moment
 >“Let me finish… What I want to say and this is something that you REALLY need to keep in mind it’s this…” You see Celestia giving that past version of you a smile, but…you feel like she was actually smiling directly at you…and that was something that warmed your very soul.
>Celestia takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, never letting go of that smile “You are much more than just a colt that is good at math and physics, more than a colt that has some of the greatest magical potential I’ve seen. You are different, from the way you talk and act, to your skills… and those differences are what make you so unique. I don’t know what your talent is or what destiny has in store for you”
>Those words pierced your soul with so much power that it sent a chill down your spine. It was… like if your dear mother was answering every single doubt that you had in the present.
>It’s hard to describe it, but you started to see your mom with an aura of greatness and wisdom…Why you never noticed that before? And those words… everything that she said made you forget about what Starlight has said.
>You get lost in thought, but a few words escape your mouth in a soft whisper…
“Those differences…are…what make me unique…”
>Celestia continues with what at the moment felt like just simple words of encourgament that a mother would give to her son when he was feeling down, but right now, those words were much more than that
>“I’m not one that believes in coincidences, I believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe that destiny guided Discord to find you, and destiny brought you to Luna and me, I believe that destiny will show you what makes you truly special, what will make your whole existence to have a meaning. And I believe that it will be something so beautiful, that the day it happens, you will be a shining beacon for everypony”
>In fact, when you try to compare the two of them, Starlight’s arguments came off as…phony, you couldn’t put your hoof exactly on what, but they certainly started to sound faker and faker the more that you start to rationalize them.
“…my existence…to have a meaing…”
>That’s right…Celestia is right…but still…There was something else, a big point that Starlight had… what about your other mom? What about Luna?
>She suffered for so long, and you can’t imagine how that must have affected her internally. How much she’s not letting out just to avoid that you or anyone else gets worried about her….
>”…Finally! that should be all the work that we had today, maybe now I can show you about this fun that I learned from the ponies in that nice village…” That voice….it was Luna!
>You turn around…and you no longer where in Celestia’s study but instead you were at Luna’s. She was sitting at that humble desk of hers, a mountain of papers was resting on top of the desk and Celestia was lying on a nearby couch eating a delicious looking cake.
>”Oh yeah, Twilight sent me a letter detailing the whole thing that happened during Nightmare night. But I haven’t read it, in fact I don’t want to, she has sent me too many letters…fifty this week alone!” Celestia cringes a little by that “I love that mare, I really do, but she needs to get a hobby other than books and writing letters”
>Celestia rolls her eyes as she eats more cake “But don’t get me wrong I’m curious about how your little adventure at Ponyville went. So pray tell dear sister, did you learn something valuable during your little trip?”
>Luna flies to where Celestia was resting and in one quick motion, she take the cake and drops it in a trash bin
> Celestia gets up immediately and asks with annoyance ”Hey! What was that for?”
>Luna just smiles at her and pokes Celestia’s chest with her hoof “First of all, I learned that these type of sweets can make you really fat, and the evidence it’s clear when I see that your flank it’s already the size of an ursa minor and in fact, the only thing that can be seen from the moon. So you don’t need this kind of alimentation, and secondly…”
>Luna sits on the couch that Celestia left when she got up and stretches herself “The answer it’s a positive one. I did learn a valuable lesson. Tia, I’m not going to hide anything to you, this world it’s so strange for me… but I suppose that is to be expected after I spent a thousand years on the moon…”
>Luna looks away and focuses on the ceiling. Celestia lets out a sigh and sits by her side “Sister, I understand, but…”
>”I’m not done yet, this world might be different but interrupt a pony while she’s in the middle of her speech it’s still impolite no matter what era you are on…” Luna interrupts Celestia, her attention was still on the ceiling “After I came back, I felt so much fear about me not being accepted after what happened. And the ponies would be in the right for rejecting me once more, after all, the first impression that they got from me was that Nightmare Moon was going to bring an eternal night…”
>You feel a sting in your heart after hearing those last words, it hurt so much that you couldn’t restraint yourself from yelling
“But that’s not true!”
>”But that wasn’t the true, wasn’t my dear sister?” Celestia asks with a soft voice
>Luna nods and turns her gaze to her sister “You are correct in assuming that, I had problems figuring out these new traditions and way of thinking, especially with this…”fun” that ponies seems to enjoy so much, this world is different from the one that I once knew, especially the ponies, but you know what? I’m sure that I couldn’t be happier with this”
>When did this happen? You don’t remember this. Hmmm…. this must have taken place before she came back but before you arrived to Equestria. But, did she say… that she couldn’t be happier?
>”And why is that?” You could just tell that Celestia knew the answer but she still asked with that warm smile of hers
>”I think that’s obvious, nopony is scared from me…well, not in a serious way…I think… I swear for everything that is magical that I will never be able to understand what kind of machinations happens inside of that pink pony mind. But I’m not a fool. I know that’s not the answer that you seek for…”
>She must be talking about Pinkie Pie, good to know that you are not the only one who just don’t get what the fuck that mad pony thinks.
>”Of course you are not a fool…except when it comes to baking or cooking anything of course” Celestia wiggles her eyebrows and gave her sister a smug grin
> Luna rolls her eyes at this and takes a sigh “A thousand years later and you still act like a teen filly, I guess some things never change. But what changed were the ponies themselves. I can no longer feel a hint of prejudice in their hearts and their dreams are much more pure. I don’t know how you did it Tia, but I’m happy that you managed such change”
“She’s happy…?”
>But… you thought that she was devastated on the inside…Starlight told you that. Wait a minute, Starlight WAS the one who told you that, not your moms.
>Luna might show regret about what happened with Nightmare Moon, but she’s still Luna. You might have assumed that she might be more hurt than she actually is
>”Luna, I have to say that while yes, I did a fantastic job in guiding them” Celestia says with tons of pride “But that’s all I did, I just pushed them in the right direction, they did the rest of the job, and more often than not they surpassed any expectation that I could ever have. They learned to accept that everypony is different and to welcome the magic of friendship in their hearts, they achieved that miracle by themselves”
>Luna gets up from the couch and rubs her chin “That’s quite the achievement, but I can’t stay behind the times. I now realize that I have to change too. You see Tia, what I learned was that everypony changes and if Nightmare Moon is a thing of the past for everypony except me, then I will have to do my best and only my best to make the happen same for me. I’m different than how I was before and I’m glad that’s the case, I just need to do more”
>She… moved on… that’s right…she…moved on! Despite everything that happened, despite that horrible punishment that the elements gave to her, Luna moved on! She wasn’t vengeful and she didn’t have any ill wishes against anypony, far from it! Luna is the kindest being that you have ever met
>Celestia places her hoof on her sister’s withers “And the best part it’s that you won’t have to do it alone”
“Well duh, of course that she won’t have to face any of this alone! She have us…She…have….me…”
>You start to realize what you did back with Starlight Glimmer, what she convinced you to do. You did the exact opposite of what Luna and Celestia would have done…you gave up hope and started listening to anything that Starlight told you….
>Luna in turn hugs her sister and replies with a whispering voice “I know Tia, thank you so much. For the first time in an eternity, I can say that the eternal night that reigned over my heart has finally ended…”
>You feel some tears running down your cheeks. You close your eyes and wipe them away…but when you open them…
>You were inside a classroom…a human classroom…you know this place so well. After all, you went through four hard years of college here. And standing in front of the class you see one of your firsts, but most influential professors that you ever had.
>That guy … You never got his name but you will certainly remember his face. He still was in his mid-forties, ear-piercing, blue eyes and the poor folk was almost bald…
>You knew when this scene took place…this was one of the days that would shape up your entire academic life. And just like you remember, the professor gaze upon his students and gave them a humble but wise smile
>”Our goal is to make this world a better place for every living creature. And in order to do that, we must embrace what makes us special and work as a team. That’s the best way that we can improve the world of every person in this place that we call Earth: By doing what we do best and working with others. And for those who can’t work as a team? We don’t cast them away like some filthy animals. Instead the MIT has the goal of showing those poor souls that were thrown into the darkness of ignorance the light of freedom and knowledge. That, my lovelies, is our main goal at the MIT, one that we hope that it becomes yours too”
>That simple speech meant so much for you during your whole academic life. And now you remember why, it might be for different reasons, but its influence was as powerful as the first time that you heard it
“Embrace our differences…”
>The world fades one last time, making way to the endless darkness. But this time you weren’t scared, this time…you knew what needed to be done.
>”Anon! There you are! What happened?! Why did you do that?! I told you that we need to get out of here!” Starlight breaks a rift across the never ending darkness. She steps inside and walks towards you
>You nod but don’t look at her
“And you are right, let’s get out of here”
>”Oh thank goodness” Starlight sighs in relief “I got worried for a moment that you…never mind, let’s get outta here, we have so much to discuss before anypony arrives”
“You are right Glimmer, we have many things to discuss…”
>Starlight is taken back a little by the tone of your answer but she doesn’t reply. Her horn begins to glow with an intense bright, and before you know it, the two of you were back to the cave that held the tree of harmony. You glare at the tree before looking back to Starlight.
>”That was quite the trip eh Anon?” Starlight gives you a cheerful smile “But despite all the drawbacks and that unexpected turn, I’m glad that you could see the light of equality”
>But you didn’t answer at first…you were too busy processing what you just saw. You look to the pink unicorn and gather your strength to finally speak
“Starlight?”
>”What is it Anon?” Starlight replies with concern
>You take a deep breathe. You weren’t nervous, or scared, or insecure, you felt…calm and secure. You just came to a big realization about yourself and the world, and you were going to tell this unicorn everything that you have learned from her “lesson”.
“I’m going to start by giving you something, you actually made lots of valid points back there and one of them was that equality indeed does sound like the easiest way to get rid of the kind of suffering that Luna suffered many centuries ago”
>Starlight regains her composure letting out a sigh in relief “Yes…” She sighs again and continues speaking “It’s actually the best and easiest way. Remember Anon, with equality, none of this should have happened, because there wouldn’t be a reason to happen, now come on…” Starlight walks to you and places her hoof on your withers
>But you step back… you don’t want to prevent this… Luna and Celestia are happy…they have moved on from what happened to Nightmare Moon, everyone has…
>”Anon...”Starlight sighs “I can see that you are still conflicted but don’t worry, I will answer any other question that you might have. After all, to bring order and equality we must get rid of any doubts!”
>You look at her, and give her a calm but confident grin
>”You are wrong Glimmer. I’m not conflicted, not anymore”
>Starlight steps back at your answer, her confidence was starting to crumble ”What? What do you mean?”
 “Let me ask you something, Glimmer. Is the easy way the right one to deal with your problems? Because despite everything that happened to my moms… they are fine…they smile, they laugh and they rule all the ponies of Equestria with love and care, so I ask, is giving up what makes you special really the true answer?
>Starlight hesitates a little, you see her left eye twitching “Why…that’s…an interesting question…but tell me, my dear Anon, did you forget already the suffering that they went through? And not only them, but all the ponies that I’ve showed you previously? You know that just thinking about the few is a very, very bad thing, don’t you? Remember, Equality is about getting rid of everypony suffering. It would be such a disgrace if something like Nightmare Moon happened ever again…”
>Nightmare Moon…that name still hurt you deep inside…but not enough to break you, not this time. You pass your hoof across your mane and look at Starlight right in the eye
“I’m well aware of that possibility. But you see, when the “very definition of disharmony” happened and ponies were fighting among them with so much hate and anger, they still managed to move on, didn’t they? And when Discord came back, and did the same to Twilight and her friends, they also got over that, did they not? They didn’t give up and that’s why they are friends to this day, and not only them, but in reality, Equestria is filled with that kind of friendship and love! And they did it without your equality, so I guess that something must be wrong with your reasoning”
>”How dare you…After everything that I have showed to you!” Starlight takes a few deep breathes and regains her composure, but she fails as she snaps at you again “So are you telling me that you would rather to help just a few lives over thousands?! Are you turning your back to harmony?! Answer me, Anon!”
 >You take a few moments in silence. Not because her question got to you, but because now you were starting to realize the kind of person that Starlight Glimmer was.
“You know Glimmer, I have always taken pride in my knowledge in mathematics and physics. But for this time, I won’t let simple numbers to answer that question. You see, I now realize that forcing everyone to think one way IS what brings suffering and pain, the only thing that we can do it’s to show everyone the rest, and then we just have to have faith that they will do the rest”
>You let out a small chuckle
“You advertise your equality as some form of liberating thing, but that’s are nothing more than a lie! And I can see that in your eyes. You want to force your doctrine onto everyone, I realize that now. You keep using these cheap tactics, and they almost worked, that I can admit. But no more, if Luna slayed her own demons without your doctrine, then everyone can.”
>Starlight narrows her eyes at you, but you don’t care about that. You feel more energized and focused than ever before
“And as your accusation of me turning my back on harmony? You are wrong again Glimmer, because you see, you are taking harmony as something completely static, as if it was something that only had one nature.”
>Starlight stomps her hooves on the ground and yells ”Yes! And that’s because harmony it’s order! And order its equality! How can you discuss that when the elements of harmony themselves agree with me!”
“Because the elements of harmony imprisoned my mother in the moon for a thousand years, which was kinda over the top, don’t you agree? If anything, I can see that the elements and you have something in common, and that thing is that the two of you manage everything in absolutes”
>You hear a sarcastic chuckle coming from Starlight “Oooooh, so now you think that you know more about harmony than the elements themselves, it’s that it Anon?”
>You raise an eyebrow and give Starlight a cocky smile
“Probably, probably not, but who is to say that those magical gems that somehow are sentient and even worse, have a complex of superiority ARE what should define harmony for everyone? With what authority those things can question someone that finds harmony in love, or art, or friendship, or adventure, or in terrifying monsters…and who are they to question someone who finds harmony in chaos too?
 >”That’s the stupidest thing that I’ve heard!” Starlight slaps her head and groans “How can you even question that absolute order it’s not harmony!”
>”Because the both of you forget that there are no absolutes in our world, during my brief life in Equestria I’ve discovered that even the laws of nature have loop holes. Even life itself is an exercise of exceptions!”
>A bright white light starts to envelope you as your body begins to levitate. You weren’t doing this, at least not consciously… but you weren’t scared because a new feeling starts to take over you.
>This was a mix of confidence, joy and strength…you now know what destiny you are going to face, and you were going to face it with everything that you had.
>The light completely embraces you in its radiance and you let it do its work with a smile. And when it’s done, a mark appears in your flank…
>You can’t help but chuckle at what that so called cutie mark was…It was Schrödinger’s atomic model. And while at first glance it could represent your talent in quantum physics, you knew that there was so much more to it… something far more important…
>”A cutie mark?” Starlight exclaims in shock “I-Impossible! What is even supposed to represent?!”
>You let out a small laugh as start to land on the ground.
“Haven’t you been paying attention to everything that we’ve discussed so far? Its harmony, I realize it now. Just like the quantum physics that I’ve studied with so much effort, harmony works in a similar fashion. Harmony doesn’t have a single stationary state, but unlike just the two states that particles can have, harmony has an infinite amount of different shapes and forms. Even chaos can be a form of harmony if you find inner peace in it. And you know what else Glimmer?”
>”W-What?” A shaky voice now replaces Starlight’s previous confidence
“I shall protect that, all of that. Even if it kills me I shall protect all of those differences and uniqueness that makes everyone special, because those things that makes everyone special it’s what harmony truly is. And you can bet that flat flan of yours that I will do my damn best to help everyone to achieve their true potential.
>Starlight glares at you and replies with a sarcastic tone ”Hmph! So that’s how it will be then?”
“Yes, that is my destiny, to spread and develop all the harmony that I can find, no matter in what shape or form it might be, and to stop ponies like you that only tries to force their own flawed ideology upon others!”
>Starlight sighs and detaches the spell from the tree, placing it on her saddlebag ”Oh my dear Anon, all of that sounds so grand, but I have to ask you a final question…”
“And what is that question?”
>”How are you going to achieve that…” Starlight gives you a cruel grin “If you won’t have a cutie mark!” Her horn glows and shoots a magical beam at you
>Just like a reflex, you shield yourself with your magic. But despite the electrical feeling being replaced by the soft and warm one, you were no match.
“Aaaaagh!”
>Your shield shatters when the blast makes a direct hit, sending you flying and crashing onto one of the cave walls
“Hnnnng….that…was low…”
>”Oh please, you are talking about acting low? How about giving me hopes that I finally found somepony that could understand me and then immediately turning your back on me?!” Starlight was out of her mind, she was yelling filled with rage
>“You are just like everypony else! No, you might even be worse! But don’t worry my dear Anon…” Her horn lights up again, and her face was making a cruel but arrogant smile “Because you will accept the light of equality… one way or another!”
>Starlight looks at you with a triumphant glare. There was nothing else that you could do, that impact was too much for you.
>And even if that wasn’t the case, it was clear that she was much, much better than you at handling magic. You were just a colt that was just getting used to his magic after all, and this was a unicorn that must have had years of experience…
>You look at Starlight directly to the eye and ready yourself for the blow… You give her a cocky smile and ready yourself… whatever happens …you won’t give her the satisfaction of going out like a coward….
>*Fwwiiiiiip*
>Just in time before she shoots that final blast a metallic device comes out from the darkness of the cave and firmly attaches to Starlight’s horn.
>”Aaaaaah! What’s this thing?!” Starlight tries her best to remove the metallic contraption from her horn, but fails miserably. She then tries to use her magic, but her horn doesn’t even light up “I-I can’t use my magic!”
>Starlight steps back. You look to her and notice something that was hanging above her.
> A large shadow, no bigger than a pony, but you weren’t sure what it was since it was surrounded by complete darkness.
>But then you see it when you adjust your little glasses and focus your attention on that weird object. Two eyes bright up as a pair of bat-like wings start to unfold.
>Starlight was unaware of this since she was still struggling to make the device to come off, but finally, after so much waiting and just in time
“The cavalry has arrived…”
>Starlight turns to you and yells ”What did you say?!” but that was it. After she said those words Moonlight Shadow falls upon Starlight like a predator would do with her pray.
>Starlight didn’t even have a chance to react or to turn around. Moonlight knocked her out cold before the pink unicorn could even notice that she was there.
>”That should do the trick…” Moonlight removes the saddleback from Starlight and tosses the contents on the ground. She picks the scroll that Starlight used on the tree along a couple more and hides them in her armor “I’ll be taking these if you don’t mind…” Moonlight sarcastically tells the unconscious Starlight.
“Moonlight…You arrived”
>”Of course I did. I’m your bodyguard after all” Moonlight smiles at you and helps you to get back up “I’m sorry for not getting here earlier, but that cloud around Ponyville was a tough nut to crack, luckily that prench captain lent me her airship after I…persuaded her…”
>You notice a small blush in Moonlight’s face. You raise an eyebrow and adjust your glasses
“Persuaded her?”
>”Yes, persuaded her, and let’s leave it like that.” Oh well, you better not push this any further…you were kinda fearful that she might snap your back in two “And now…heeeey, is that… a cutie mark?”
>You dust yourself…aww toddles, the shirt that Rarity gave to you was all messed up…oh man. You look to Moonlight and nod
“Yup! Can you guess what I got my cutie mark in?”
>You ask her with pride in your voice
>”I…honestly can’t… a little help would be useful, you know?” Moonlight was inspect really close your flank. You blush and get away from her.
“I-I’ts  a cutie mark in harmony!”
>”Harmony?! Can you even get one about that?” Moonlight whistles “That sure is impressive, I can already imagine how happy Luna will get when she hears the news!”
“And I can’t wait to tell my moms either! I’m sure that-“
>You look past Moonlight and notice that Starlight was already up and running again. The metallic device on her horn was gone too “Anon! Don’t you even think for a moment that you will beat me with such low tactics!” Her horn charges with a furious glow
>Moonlight turns, but realizes that it was too late to do anything. She puts herself between Starlight and you and closes her eyes, waiting for the impact.
>”Pardon me Madame. But I cannot allow zat…”
>But once again Starlight’s attempts to shoot her magic are frustrated when a white pegasi mare steps out of the darkness and with her front hooves she clovers Starlight on the head.
“Aegia!”
>This makes Starlight go dizzy for a moment, nullifying the spell that she was going to shoot. Aegia doesn’t lose any second as she delivers a series of consecutive punches to Starlight’s head and chest, finalizing with Aegia throwing the pink unicorn into a wall.
>The impact was so hard that Starlight gets incrusted in the wall. She was still alive, but unconscious, you hope that this time was for good.
>”Zis seems to be ze end of zis matter. General Moonlight, could you please hold zis mare under arrest when she wakes up?” Aegia asks with her usual monotone voice as she flies to you
>”How are you feeling Mon Petit?” Aegia asks you while she was looking for any injury
“Like if I was brainwashed and then hit with a magical blast…but other than that, I feel pretty awesome”
>”Aaaah, it’s nice to know zat your brand of humor hasn’t disappeared” You see a smile on her face before she goes back to her emotionless look
>Moonlight looks to Starlight who was still incrusted on the wall “I can’t help to wonder who that mare is though…”
“Her name is Starlight Glimmer”
>Moonlight flies towards the unconscious unicorn to take a closer look “I think that I read the file on this one. The Princess of Friendship and the elements met her a few months ago in a town that nopony knew that existed…”
“Really?”
>”Oui, zat is correct.” Aegia does a final check on you before joining Moonlight “She stole ze cutie marks of all ze ponies of zat town. According to our intel, she brainwashed ze entire town to follow her ideals of equality. She actually found zat town for zat precise objective. Ze Princess and ze elements stopped her plans from spreading zat to ze rest of Equestria. She got away in ze end zough”
>So that mare…everything that she showed you about her little town with so much pride… everything was a fake… she didn’t go to that town as a savior, she created that whole farse to trick ponies in the same way that she almost tricked you
>Moonlight turns to Aegia and chuckles ”Oh well, it’s all over for her now. There’s only place that she’s going to and that’s-“
>Before Moonlight stops mid-sentence, she was frozen, same with Aegia and even Starlight… You smile and let out a sigh
“You certainly took your time. What took you so long my friend?”
>”Do you see the glorified door stopper that it’s over there?” You couldn’t see him, but you were sure that Discord referred to the tree of harmony “There isn’t much that I could do with that thing going full power”
“That makes sense, don’t worry, I don’t blame you for anything…”
>”I suppose that after this…side-event, you won’t want to stay for the fireworks...” You can feel some concern in Discord’s voice
>You shake your head and smile
“I did say that I was going to make everyone forget about Tirek, didn’t I? Besides, how would I leave the party that my friend made with so much dedication, nah, I’ll stay for the whole carnival. But I think that it’s a little sad that you missed the show.”
>”Our contraire my little prince! I saw almost everything that was of relevance” Discord materializes at your side, he was looking at Starlight with disdain “That was quite the show if I have to admit, too bad that it’s all over know, I would have simply loved to get my little paw on her…”
>You weren’t looking at Discord, and he wasn’t looking at you. Both of you were focused on the tree of harmony
“Everything that was relevant? So you heard my little speech I suppose, what did you think about it?”
>Discord shrugs ”It was dull, plodding, pedantic… much like yourself” he replies with a snicker “But I have to say one thing that I found…what is the word? Oh yeah, promising”
>You let out a small annoyed groan
“And what’s that?”
>Discord growls “I suppose that I will have to be admit that I hoped that you would get a cutie mark in chaos…Ooooh, how wonderful would have it been to have a little compadre that could understand my chaotic arts! And just imagine the reaction on your mothers…I mean the Princesses faces! It would have been just marvelous! That’s why I chose you; you know…That whole degree in chaos?”
>You let out a laugh
“I can see why would you do it, sorry to disappoint with the exact opposite than what you were expecting”
>”As much as it goes against my nature, I’m going to get serious for a single moment” Discord scowls at this but nonetheless he continues “I said that what I saw was promising because I witnessed the manner in which you were able to expand your mind and your horizons …”
“When I got my cutie mark”
>”Anon, please, this is already a difficult enough task for my chaotic magnificence so just shut up okay?” You chuckle and comply, letting Discord continue with his explanation “For that brief moment, you opened your mind to possibilities that you or anypony had never considered before, and I realized in that moment… that’s the destiny that awaits you! Not just teaching ponies about stuff they already know but have forgotten! But to discover the unknown possibilities of existence….”
>You narrow your eyes
“Discord…what is it that you are trying to tell me?”
>Discord doesn’t respond, he was hesitant about something. You turn to Discord, but he wasn’t there…
>”You’ll find out… for now, enjoy your victory my little prince. See you… later…”