The Elements of Turmoil

By RadaVonVon

Chapter 16: Grey

Overcast. It was overcast.

As summer transitioned into fall, Ponyville was thrust into a myriad of different weather patterns, each reminiscent of a different season. Heavy rain, icy breezes, and the occasional day where the humidity level was so high that nopony dared leave their homes.

On those particular days, the heat permeated the homes of the Ponyville residents, including the library, sending never-ending waves of heat and a disgusting wetness straight to those who despised it most.

An overcast day, though. That was some of Big MacIntosh’s favourite weather. Though, he’d never admit it, it was the kind of weather that made him think and consider things from all angles. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the type of weather an apple farmer would typically wish for, so he generally, like many other things, kept this information to himself, or sometimes, Fluttershy.

MacIntosh was often mistaken for being a stupid pony, or little more than a quiet country stallion, one who knew only how to do work. In truth, this was the opposite. MacIntosh Apple may not have been book-smart like Twilight Sparkle, but he was certainly not emotionally dull. As a matter of fact, he had become perceptive enough to know a pony’s emotions by merely looking at them.

Being so introverted did have its advantages. Sometimes, everypony was so worried about themselves that they never learned anything from others.

It had been three days since they had watched the foals fall into a huge crater. They had managed to get out after a struggle, and had continued to aimlessly wander down the road. For whatever reason, they had silently resolved to barely speak to each other as the time had moved forward with them, and they had continued down the road, lacking any particular destination and hoping that they would simply come across something identifiable.

Mac sighed, sitting just outside the Ponyville library, his trademark sprig of wheat hanging from the side of his mouth. He chewed it thoughtfully, examining the greyness of the sky that seemed to reflect on the rest of the residents in Ponyville. He got to his hooves and walked inside. “Looks like a storm’s brewin’.” He informed everypony else with a passive nod.

“You sure?” He watched the brown pony from Buckingham that Twilight had introduce to them cross the room and stick his head out the door. Mac watched each of the mares, save for Twilight Sparkle, glare at him. Even Fluttershy had an irritated eyebrow raised.

Though MacIntosh certainly didn’t know the full situation, he was aware that the stallion, his name was Doctor Whooves, had been together with Twilight a number of years ago, and, according to Twilight and him, had been captured by Diamond Dogs and disappeared for quite a while.

Whooves sighed, glancing back at the group silently and narrowing his eyes. “I ask simply because it’s been cloudy for quite some time now, mind you. It hasn’t rained yet.” A stinging harshness was carried along by his words.

Twilight finally intervened. “Maybe.” She snapped, glaring at the other five mares, and walked over to Doctor Whooves, kissing him briefly. This restored their expressions back to weak smiles.

Mac watched AJ fume in the corner. She was far from happy about the Doctor’s return, as displayed by her previous rant to Big MacIntosh. He had stood there, near-silently, only giving the occasional “Eeyup.” In response, agreeing with whatever his sister had said.

She was so hotheaded, sometimes. Determined she could change things she was entirely unable to. MacIntosh calmly watched as Blueblood crossed the room, attempting to placate her by means of the soft murmurs Mac could barely hear from his position.

To his surprise, Applejack entirely ignored the upper-crust unicorn, and snapped, stepping forward. “Twi?” She called, a reigned in anger traveling along her voice.

Twilight looked over. “What?” She responded serenely, a wistful smile plastered upon her face.

“Can Ah talk to you for a minute?” AJ hissed. Big Mac raised an eyebrow, ready to intervene. It was rare she ever looked this angry. When she had, he’d generally received a kick to the face. They didn’t need any more drama in the group, everypony was too worried about their foals as it was

Mac watched Twilight flinch, and hoped she wouldn’t oblige. Though, of course, the Unicorn blinked and nodded while Applejack led her upstairs. Big Mac inhaled slightly when he was sure he was out of Applejack’s earshot. “Careful, everypony.” He mumbled, just as an angry, indiscernible shout rang through the group, distinctly from Applejack.

“Calm down,” He heard Twilight say weakly.

“Have you no self-respect, Twilight Sparkle?!”

“Applejack, listen-“

“Nuh-uh! Listen, Ah’ve had to deal with yer mopin’ an’ moanin’ an’ groanin’ ‘bout this feller an’ now ya wanna tell me he’s just back an’ er’rythin’s fine an’ dandy?”

“Applejack, please, just listen to me.”

“No! You listen ta me, Twi! This guy’s bad news! Ya better drop ‘im!”

As the conversation was taking place above their heads, Big Mac’s eyes wandered to the brown stallion, sitting on his haunches and staring at his hooves. He raised an eyebrow. “Ya alright?”

The brown pony was startled to his hooves. “Oh. Yes, yes.” He sighed, getting to his hooves. The Blueblood guy, Applejack’s husband also appeared sympathetic and was approaching.

“Ah; Her bark is bigger than her bite.” The white unicorn assured with a smile. “Don’t worry.” He paused momentarily. “So, Buckingham? My parents are from Buckingham.”

Finally, Pinkamena looked over. The filly’s hair had refused to return to its previous, afro-like state by any means. She turned around, slowly getting to her hooves and approaching the Doctor, sending an irate glare directly toward him. “I know why Applejack is so mad.”

The earth pony looked up slowly, desperately to Pinkie. “Why?”

“If Braeburn came back, saying he was just captured or something, I’d be mad.”

“But, what if he did his best to come back?” Whooves immediately asked, furrowing his brow.

Pinkamena paused. “Well, then I might understand that, but other ponies don’t. Applejack is really loyal, and she doesn’t like to think that you hurt Twilight. Nopony else likes it either. I know that if Braeburn came back, she’d do the same thing.”

Whooves flinched at the mention of hurting Twilight. “I… I never meant to.” He murmured. “I just, I come back, and then there’s this colt, and… I’m not ready for this! I never planned to have kids or anything. I don’t know how to be a father, I don’t think I even want to be one.”

“No one is.” Big Mac interjected.

“Mhm.” Fluttershy confirmed quietly. He recalled her being angry about the earth pony, but now he saw nothing more than pity on the Pegasus’ face. “MacIntosh,” She gestured quietly, still speaking in her low voice. “he fainted when I told him he was gonna be a dad.”

A slight blush crept along his cheeks, and he remained silent.

“Yes, but I wasn’t here for that! Clockwork’s an adolescent! People don’t exactly, you know, write volumes on this! I have a teenage son, and I’ve been gone up until now. What’s he going to think of me, huh?” The Doctor’s voice gradually grew in volume and what bordered on terror as he spoke. “What am I supposed to do?” He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the group around him. “I’m sure he despises me!” Whooves hung his head. “You know, I never meant to hurt anypony. Especially Twilight.”

MacIntosh paused sympathetically. The stallion seemed honest enough. “AJ’s kinda hardheaded. Don’t concern yerself too much with her opinion.”

“Well, I think she’s right!” Rainbow Dash had been absentmindedly pacing the room at a hover. “I think she’s right for being mad at you. After all, how do we know you’re telling the truth?”

“Hey—yeah!” Spike called, lowering his eyebrows. “Twilight’s so dumbstruck with you. I haven’t liked you ever since you showed up.”

“You very well know it was an accident!” Whooves retorted, glowering at the dragon. “What followed was purely chance.”

“Oh, okay! So now you’re going to blame the fact that she fell in love with you on chance and pass it up like it’s nothing at all?” Spike snapped, lumbering toward Whooves with steam escaping his nostrils. “I should roast you right here!” He let out a roar.

“I’d like to see you try, you oversized lizard.” Whooves challenged, leaping to his hooves and pressing himself up against Spike’s scaly purple face. Spike growled in response, showing off his massive fangs.

“Guys!” Soarin approached. “Chill out, please. The guy’s been nice so far, cut him some slack! You too, RD!” He glared up at Rainbow, still aimlessly circling the area, and only shrugging in response.

Scootaloo nodded. “You ponies need to chill.” She sighed. “Listen, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom are gonna be coming by. I got a letter from them today.”

“Applebloom?” Big MacIntosh turned to his sister’s friend. “Why’s she coming to town?” Last he’d heard, she’d run off to Appleoosa to help build and design homes for new settlers, and Sweetie Belle had come along to sing in the saloon.

“They took a vacation or something.” Scootaloo shrugged. “Who knows?

Rarity gasped, darting over. “Really? Oh, truly? Fantastic!” She exclaimed farcically, clapping her hooves together. “I haven’t seen her since she left.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Scootaloo muttered.

Big MacIntosh turned back to Doctor Whooves, sighing, just as Soarin landed between Spike and the Doctor. “Listen, the both of you.” He snapped, glancing between them. “If Whooves wanted to hurt Twilight, he would have never come back. It was clearly unintentional. Now, I’d like to avoid any fights. If both of you would step back and chill the buck out, that’d make the rest of us very, very happy.”

Spike grunted, obliging. “Fine, fine.” He hissed, his forked tongue slipping out of his mouth. “You’re suspicious, though, dude. There’s something about you…” He cocked his head briefly before going back across the room and sitting next to Rarity, looking irritated, steam still exhuming from his nostrils. Rarity gently patted his head with an ivory hoof, flashing the remainder of the group an apologetic smile.

Big MacIntosh finally noticed Applejack, standing in the doorway next to Twilight, glowering at him, Whooves, Blueblood, and Soarin. She seemed like she was going to open her mouth to say something, but Twilight interrupted her. “So,” Twilight murmured, staring at her hooves quietly. “Is that really what you want, you guys?”  A visible shudder wracked her body and she looked up suddenly, her dark eyes staring at Spike. “All this time?” She laughed dryly. “All this time, you never wanted me to be happy, did you?”

Her eyes were moist, and though MacIntosh wasn’t the object of her resentment, he still flinched. Spike did not turn around, continuing to stare at the window at the grey sky. “I didn’t want you to get hurt, Twi. You’re like my older sister. I knew he was bad news the minute he showed up here!” Spike raised a claw and pointed at the ground. He was standing in the same area the Harnis had first appeared.

“What? Do you not trust me?” Twilight spat, poison dripping from her words. “Am I so incompetent, Spike, that I can’t take care of myself? At least I’m not chasing after affluent fashion designer who thinks she’s got it all figured out!”

Spike snapped his head around. “I married her!” He barked.

“Hah!” Twilight let out a short, loud laugh, then returned to her previous, disconsolate and infuriated expression. She lowered her eyes. “Funny how you had to go outside your own species.”

Silence rang throughout the room, and steam exhumed from Spike’s nostrils. Rarity sat in shocked muteness, eyes wide and face pale, taking small, shallow breaths. She turned around slowly, her brow furrowed.

Then, the dragon exploded. He let out a roar, barreling toward Twilight, who leaped forward with equal fury and through a hoof into his face. The air was now thick with smoke. Though Spike was extraordinarily angry, it was clear he had no intention of scorching Twilight in any way. Nevertheless, he still didn’t know his own strength, and everypony was struggling to pull them off of each other.

Spike slashed a massive hand against Twilight’s stomach, spraying blood across the floor. She howled, yanking away from Rainbow Dash and Soarin’s grip, spitting on Spike and bucking him in the face. Spike screamed, knocked to one side, with Rarity, Applejack, and Soarin trying to pull him away. Big Mac threw himself between the two. “Now,” He huffed, glaring at the both of them. “Ahr we all adults here? Or do we have to treat you like foals?”

Rarity stared blankly at Twilight. “Is that what you think, Twilight?” She stared at her hooves then. Twilight was still being restrained by Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Soarin, Doctor Whooves, and Blueblood. “Is that… Do you really hate the idea all that much? I thought you loved Spike. I thought you loved me. I thought you wanted us to be happy.” Her eyes filled with tears, and Spike immediately broke free of the grip of the ponies restraining him. He had clearly just been playing along to avoid hurting anypony seriously.

“Rarity, she didn’t mean it.” Spike rumbled, approaching her delicately.

“No, Spike. I think she did.” Rarity murmured quietly. “Do you think I don’t know that the lifestyle I chose is unorthodox? Every day, Gem gets teased. We didn’t mean for this to happen this way. We didn’t even intend to have a colt, we thought we’d adopt if we ever did.”

“Oh, please.” Twilight snarled. Blood was pouring from her belly, onto the floor. “It isn’t possible without magical intervention. We both know it.”

“We didn’t do anything!” Rarity threw her hooves into the air. “And we love him! What, is something wrong with that? Loving your son, no matter what he may look like? I don’t care about that any more, Twilight. Maybe it’s time you grew up and stopped living in a fairy tale.” Rarity chuckled darkly. “I thought you’d grown up. I felt bad for you. This,” She gestured to Doctor Whooves. “Is what you waited for all those years? You’ve read too many of those dusty old books. You’re living in a fairy tale!

“Maybe I wanted to be great! And maybe I failed. But at least my son has a father. That’s more than you can claim!”

Twilight sat there, stunned. Everypony released their restraints on her. “… Get out.” She whispered.

“Ah, I’m sorry; what was that?” Rarity hissed. “I’d like to hear you repeat that, and be very, very careful about the next words to come out of your mouth.”

“Did I stutter? Get out. If you want to go play Beauty and the Beast, then play it. But do it somewhere else, and let me get on with my life. I’ve certainly wasted enough of it.”

“You’re right. You have.” Rarity flipped her hair over her hear, raising her chin. “Fine.” She turned on heel, going to the door. “Come on, Spike.” She called with alarming finality. “We can stay at the Boutique.”

Spike was clearly hesitant. His eyes wandered to Twilight’s wound, and the blood on the floor, but Twilight clearly wasn’t letting up, and after a nervous glance between the two unicorns, he finally followed Rarity out.

Twilight finally relaxed, though she looked, somehow, melancholy. She stared at the ground and Whooves rested a sympathetic hoof on her shoulder. “Listen, love,” He murmured. “I certainly don’t want you burning bridges. Friends are important. You should go apologize.”

“Why do I need to apologize?” Twilight growled. “Besides that, why are you so scared of what Clockwork is going to think of you? I’m capable of raising my son!”

“I never said you weren’t, darling.” Whooves mumbled into her mane, resting his head on top of hers. “You know I’d never say that. I’m scared because I don’t know if I’m capable. I don’t know what I’m doing, Twi.” He chuckled humorlessly.

Twilight sighed, smiling weakly and nuzzling the side of his face. “I love you. You keep me sane, you know that, right?”

“I love you, too. And I suppose I do, to an extent. We should get those slashes cleaned up. I’m sure they were an accident. The last time I saw that little dragon, he was just a baby.” He smiled, waving an anxious Fluttershy away with a small shrug. MacIntosh smiled briefly and felt Fluttershy resting against him once again. He glanced to his side and smirked.

“Ya doin’ ahlright?”

“Mhm.” Fluttershy murmured contentedly. “I love you.” She whispered. Mac felt her warm breath against his neck and ear.

“Ah love you, too.” Big Mac turned to the rest of them. AJ was steaming in the corner. He sighed. “Hold on.” He whispered, kissing Fluttershy briefly. “Ah’ll be back. Ah hope.” He gulped, walking past Whooves and Twilight, grabbing Applejack’s hoof. “We need ta talk.”

Applejack grunted in response, following after MacIntosh, still glowering. Once they were upstairs, she stared at him. “Yeah? What’cha want?”

“I need’ja ta lay off. Ya may not like this feller, but for Celestia’s sake, Ah haven’t seen Miss Twilight so happy in years.”

Applejack loosened up, her green eyes softening. “Ah know, Ah know, Mac.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Ah just…” She looked down at her hooves. “Ah don’t think she should be so darned passive ‘bout this!”

Big Mac lowered his eyebrows. “Listen, AJ,” He mumbled. “He feels real bad. Ah don’t think he’s gonna hurt ‘er. Leave ‘im alone. Let her and Miss Rarity an’ Spike there ta make up. Awwright?”

“Fahn.” Applejack grunted, turning and leaving, growling to herself. MacIntosh rolled his eyes and followed her downstairs, finding Twilight sitting at the table with a cup of tea, sitting next to Doctor Whooves, who was flashing her a toothy grin.

Prince Blueblood raised an eyebrow at Big MacIntosh. The earth pony watched Blueblood turn in his direction, cock an eyebrow and mouth, ‘You’re good.’ With his eyes wide in shock before turning to nuzzle Applejack, who shrugged him off, snarling and huffing to herself.

MacIntosh watched Soarin look up at Rainbow Dash, still pacing while she hovered around the room. “Dashie, it’s time you got some sleep.”

“I’ve said it before, I can say it again. I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”

“Come on, RD.”

“No.”

“You’re coming to bed.” Soarin insisted, stamping a hoof before flapping into the air, grabbing her, and dragging her back down to earth with a couple of quick, if awkward, maneuvers.

After an exhausted, easy struggle on the ground, Soarin finally pinned down Rainbow, and flipped off of her, grabbing her by the hoof. “You’re going to bed.”

“Night, Scootaloo…” Rainbow suddenly mumbled. She had dark, navy circles under her magenta eyes. She obliged as Soarin led her away.

“Night, Rainbow.” Scootaloo called, laughing slightly, with her head cocked at the two blue Pegasi. Soarin nodded at her, a quick confirming nod passing between them. Pinkie Pie still hadn’t really moved. She’d taken to sitting silently in a room and melding away, anypony would forget she was even there.

Conveniently enough, there was a knock on the door just as Rainbow and Soarin disappeared upstairs. Twilight motioned as though she was going to get up, but Whooves rested a hoof on hers, shaking his head. “You need to relax.” He murmured to her. MacIntosh took this as a sign that he should get it, being the gentlecolt he was, got to his hooves and crossed the room, opening the door.

Immediately, he was tackled by a blur of yellow and red. “Big brother! Why’re you here?” MacIntosh felt a kiss on his cheek and grinned, picking up Applebloom. “Nothin’ ya need to concern yerself with.”

Applejack had trotted over, and was now nuzzling her little sister affectionately. “Well, hey there, sis. Yer my size now!” She exclaimed, examining Applebloom, who was now blushing.

“Yeah, Ah s’pose Ah grew.” She smiled. Her cutie mark was a red apple, adorned with a flower, similar to the ones that blossomed in the spring on the crab apple trees.

Sweetie Belle mocked glaring at her. “Puh-leez!” She rolled her eyes. “You’re huge. Hey, wh- SCOOTALOO!” Her cry rang throughout the library as the earth pony and unicorn turned to the orange Pegasus, who was promptly tackled.

“Oh my gosh, you guys!”

MacIntosh and Applejack exchanged glances. They were going to talk forever. He did take a moment to look at Sweetie Belle’s cutie mark. He’d never seen it. A heart with a music note over it. Fitting, he supposed. He shrugged as their conversation dissolved into a cadence in his ears. Scootaloo would explain what happened with Rarity, and he’d catch up with Applebloom and her architectural job later. No doubt they’d have to talk about Braeburn at some point. He shook his head in memory of his cousin, clearing any trace of melancholy from his mind.

He glanced out the windows again as Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo’s conversation dulled even further. Everything was grey outside. Lifeless.

Why was it he got the feeling that it was somehow leaking into everything else? He felt as though the colour inside the library had just become duller as well. The earth pony glanced around for any sign that anypony else had noticed the change, but received no gratification. He shrugged it off as his imagination. Just as he was turning away, he saw Pinkie Pie shift and furrow her brow.

Fluttershy looked up quietly. She had been keeping an eye on Pinkamena for the past several days or so. “Is everything okay?” The light yellow Pegasus murmured, approaching the pink pony.

“It’s weird.” Was Pinkamena’s only reply, she wrinkled her nose.

“What’s weird?”

“It’s like a twitch, but different.”

“You’re getting a twitch?”

“No. It’s like one, though.” Pinkamena frowned, furrowing her brow and glancing around the room, everypony looking at her. “It has something to do… With…” Horror flashed across her face. “Discord. Discord. It has something to do with Discord.”

“O-oh.” Fluttershy blinked, staring at Pinkamena in dread. “Maybe… Pinkie, I mean, uh, Pinkamena, I think you should go to bed.” Fluttershy slapped a hoof over her mouth in an attempt to medicate her Freudian slip.

“No.” The party pony muttered. “I’m okay, I don’t want to have nightmares.”

“I’ll stay with you.” Fluttershy whispered softly, standing in front of Pinkamena, a concerned grimace covering her face, with part of her hair over her eyes.

“No, I really don’t feel tired. It’s just… Something’s still wrong. It’s still about Discord.” Pinkamena whispered, looking over her shoulder at the clearly concerned Fluttershy.

Big MacIntosh could swear he felt the colours in the room dull once again, as if the grey clouds had made their way into the room itself. Pinkamena paused. “There it is again. I don’t know what it is.”

“Maybe you really need some rest.” Fluttershy murmured, guiding Pinkamena up the stairs.

“Ah feel it, too.” MacIntosh stopped her, raising a hoof. “Ah dunno what it is, either. Everything seems… grey.”

I can’t sit idly.

No, I can’t move at all.

I’m on reserve power.

I’m actually very lucky, driving a pony to believe something that they’d never ordinarily think, however true it may be, is a lot like pushing somepony off the cliff to madness. Everyone’s teetering there, slowly. All they need is a little push. You can’t force them. You start by giving them an idea. That idea takes root and sprouts. It becomes nourished by little insecurities, doubts, and the like.

Until, finally, it’s so ingrained there, in the place you planted it, where it is undoubtedly true, and certainly, fearfully, true.

My meddling in Gem's conception has certainly paid off. There should be just enough chaos to last.

It’s a waiting game, now. But, I’m used to waiting. I’ve done it for five thousand years. I can wait another few days.

Your move, Celestia.

~XXX~

Super Ponybeat reference. Yeah. You totally shouldn’t listen to its ultimate sexiness here.

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