Family of Chaos (11) (Patreon)

The kitchen filled up slowly. However important the Elements of Harmony might be for fighting various threats around Equestria, they were still their own ponies, with their own lives and families to worry about.

By the time they were all there, the pizza was already cold. But Hurricane didn't care—her anticipation for the coming judgment loomed overhead with far greater weight. She wouldn't be able to think until she got her answer from Princess Celestia, much less eat.

Twilight wouldn't tell her exactly what happened, but that didn't matter. It couldn't be good news, or else there would be no reason to gather everypony up.

"Waiting doesn't make it any easier," Hurricane said, shifting nervously in her seat. "Go on. Princess Celestia wants to kill me, doesn't she? Tell me the truth."

Twilight levitated something out of her saddlebags, a notepad covered in dense text. Not some royal decree with a wax stamp pressed in beside it. Was that better, or worse?

"They weren't happy to find out you were getting your memory back," Twilight eventually said. "Especially with Discord's recent escape."

"Could've told you that," Rainbow said, the only one to take a slice of pizza out of the box so far. "Did you convince her?"

"Well... yes. But not what we wanted." She reached across the table, resting one hoof on Hurricane's foreleg. "I was able to show them how careful you are not to hurt anypony. They agreed to give you a chance, just not here."

"What does that mean?" Hurricane asked. "Where else could I go?"

She levitated something else from her saddlebags—a tightly-folded map. She held it in the air so they could all see, pointing far to the south. Not quite outside Equestria's borders, but close.

"Ponyville is too close to Canterlot."

"Too many ponies?" Applejack guessed. "If somethin’ went wrong, a lot of folks could get hurt."

"Yeah," Twilight said, sounding not at all like that was the reason. "But other things too."

"Discord," Hurricane whispered. "She doesn't want me close to wherever he's imprisoned. She's probably afraid I would try to break him out, join his side. Two of us would be too powerful to stop."

The ponies all fell silent. Some, like Applejack, looked genuinely horrified by that realization. How bad had things been when Discord attacked Ponyville?

"I don't want to," Hurricane added. "So we're all on the same cloud here. He's the one who attacked Equestria to begin with. Maybe he should stay in stone."

Maybe until Equestria eventually faded, like everything did. It would be much harder to hurt anypony if they were already dust.

"That's good," Rarity said. "And—perhaps already clear, given you didn't fly up to release him the first time. You went directly to the princess. And you waited here in Ponyville for Twilight to return. I think we're all in agreement there."

Applejack watched her intently, silent for a good few minutes. When she did speak, it was slow at first, but with growing confidence. "Yeah. I know a liar when I see one. This pony might be a lot of things, but she ain't no liar."

Hurricane took a slow, deep breath. "I don't have to turn to stone?" she asked, voice timid. "Or erase my memories and start over?"

A polite euphemism for basically killing her. But even Hurricane was nervous about saying what she really meant.

"That's the hope," Twilight said. "That we can be successful. Assuming you're willing to abide by the conditions. Live in one place, don't move, and write regular letters about your progress. Could you do that?"

She nodded. "Doesn't sound... that different from what we wanted. Except it wouldn't be here in Ponyville. Which means I wouldn't have your help. I'd have to do all the same stuff, but alone." She slumped onto her haunches, looking nervously between them. "How am I supposed to learn to control this magic with nopony to teach me?"

Twilight winced. "Well... that's the real reason I wanted everypony here. It would be rather difficult to accomplish on your own. Maybe even impossible. I was hoping somepony here might be willing to help out a little. I wouldn't feel right sending you down alone. But my responsibilities would keep me from staying very long myself."

"I figure all of us have responsibilities too," Applejack said. "Not that I don't wanna be neighborly. Or that I got no sympathy for what poor Hurricane is goin' through. But I can't put my life on hold. Got a lot of ponies depending on me."

"Same here," Rainbow said. "Weather team doesn't exactly let me take vacations. Ponyville won't keep getting the rain it needs for planting if nopony keeps everypony in line."

With each denial, Hurricane's ears slumped lower, her body sagging. They all claimed to have sympathy for her. They cared enough not to turn her instantly to stone. But when it came time to sacrifice a little to make something happen...

"If anypony is considering it, you should know—Equestria views this a matter of national security. Whatever financial concerns you have, it will make sure they're not a factor. Don't let that stop you from helping. I will go down with her, to make sure everything gets set up properly. But I can only stay for a few days."

"Well." Rarity stood up a little straighter. "I suppose there is some benefit to the life of an independent entrepreneur. I have been meaning to make a trip down south, to open another location for the Boutique. I'll consider this the universe's way of encouraging me out of my comfort zone."

She turned then, nudging Hurricane's shoulder with a demur hoof. "Assuming, of course, that our friend here would consider my company for the expedition. She may have other standards."

"I could probably visit!" Pinkie Pie said. "Not all the time—Mr. and Mrs. Cake need me at the bakery. And I have a list of parties coming up this season. But when I'm not running those... it could be fun! Helping a pony make some new friends, staying sane through whatever nightmares come during the darkest, coldest nights."

"I could visit too," Rainbow said. "Flying on my own, I bet I could make it down there in..." She glanced briefly at the map, then back up again. "A few hours? Maybe even less, if there's good wind. Just have to wait until we hit the hot days..."

So it went with each of them in turn. Where at first they’d been reluctant, now each of Twilight's friends in turn volunteered to at least visit. And if they kept up the schedule they suggested, there would be somepony with her all the time.

"Thank you, everypony," she said. "You're saving my life in more ways than one. If you weren't willing..." She didn't have to finish, but the meaning was obvious. If none of these important ponies were willing to speak for her to the Alicorns, or to supervise her during this experiment, she had a pretty good idea of what Equestria's diararchs would want.

Either she'd lose her memory, or her freedom. Either one would make for a heartbreaking, empty ending to her life.

"No need to mention it," Rarity said, waving another hoof in her direction. "I can't even imagine what this must be like for you. But I know that nopony should face it alone. I just happen to be in the perfect position to offer my assistance."

There were more practical concerns to arrange, of course. When would they travel, which train would they take, and how would it all be paid for? Hurricane nodded along through it all, confident in these Elements to settle the specifics.

It took a little time, but not so much compared to everything she'd been through. Considering how hopeless she felt when Twilight first walked inside, she would've accepted just about anything.

I won't be like him. No matter what happens. If it comes down to it, I'll let them turn me to stone too. Better than letting anypony get hurt.

She spent another night in the Golden Oaks library. She slept much better now that some of the worst questions about her future were answered. Thanks to her involvement with Twilight and the others, she had a chance. She wouldn't waste it.

Maybe that was why she slept soundly that night, with the alien laughter far, far from her conscious mind. Maybe she was satisfied that her time would finally come. That other self would soon be set free.

Then came morning, and a final breakfast provided by the helpful dragon. She packed her meager possessions, then joined Twilight at the Ponyville train station.

Rarity met them in a huff, hurrying up the platform without running. She smelled strongly of espresso, and practically dripped the beans onto the platform behind her when she walked. Rarely had Hurricane ever seen a creature so exhausted. She never would've allowed somepony to work a night in the factory in that state.

She floated several heavy crates behind her, each one covered with labels and secure canvas straps. She deposited all in front of an exhausted-looking porter, practically crushing him with the sheer weight and volume. "Made it. Thought... I... wouldn't make the train," she whispered, tipping slowly to one side.

Twilight caught her with one leg, holding her firmly upright. "Good thing I booked a sleeper for the trip."

"Fantastic, darling. Precisely as I hoped. As you might imagine, there was... some difficulty in arranging a restructuring such as this under such short notice. I may have gone a little overboard in my preparations."

Even Hurricane giggled. "You need a personal assistant. You shouldn't be handling all the details of your business with your own hooves. Completely overwhelming."

Her mind drifted to Wingapore and what Frostline must be doing with the wreckage of the factory. Maybe she could find a way to somehow fulfill the weather contracts for the season—or maybe she would just sell it all and try to make sure everypony got paid. Either way, she knew the old pegasus would make it all work out.

"Spoken like a mare who knows," Rarity said, opening one eye again. "Does our friendly chaotic mare know a thing or two about the market? I suppose there's no greater powers of creative destruction in existence."

Hurricane chuckled. "Think more that I like when the weather comes on time. If nopony else is going to get it right, well..."

The conversation could go no further, because the conductor appeared on the platform to stamp their tickets. They shuffled onto the train, then up near the front where Twilight had reserved a large sleeper section for the three of them.

The cabin would make for a comfortable ride—with huge picture windows to enjoy the view, and enough bunks for everypony. No one would be sleeping on the floor for this trip.

The train hadn't even finished its evening checks before Rarity was sleeping soundly in one of those bunks. Twilight covered her with a cloth, drawing half the curtains closed. "Fortunate that one of my friends was able to make the trip with us. And who knows—maybe you'll be able to help her in return? How do you feel about managing a clothing store?"

Hurricane shrugged. "I can't say I've ever considered it. Thought I would be too busy having my identity unravel to really do anything."

Twilight shrugged. "We'll see. I have a feeling it won't be as dramatic as all that." She settled back into her seat, watching as Ponyville faded behind them. "I've seen how strong chaos magic can be. To last a thousand years, I think part of you wanted to stay. Maybe you've already learned some of how your powers work, and you just don't realize it yet."