Fallen Generosity: Chapter 1: Contemplation

Gift: Pony POV Series: Fallen Generosity
Chapter 1: Contemplation
By Kendell2
Requested by (Name Withheld)
Note: This is based on the story Pony POV Series: Epilogue Alternate by Saphroneth. No ill will is intended towards that story or its author, in fact this in intended to be a birthday gift to him.

On one world where Discord's reign continued on, many things had at last gone right. With the aid of Princess Cadence, Trixie Midsummer ascended to Alicornhood, becoming Knight of Wands and Princess of Trickery. Together, they rescued the world from Discord's clutches, revived a lost Element of Harmony, and saved his victims. Even Discord himself was redeemed. The world seemed to be heading towards a happier end...but sadly, not every eye falling upon this world desired that.

As generosity fell in her grief, a dark voice whispered in her ears. The same dark voice that had whispered in the ears of many before it.

(Isn't it sad, Rarity? You loved her so much...but in the end, you can't bring back the dead. By the time you realize she matters to her she's gone. This world is so unfair and flawed, isn't it? The good die young. The old want to do so much but can do so little. Beauty is tarnished. So many people have had so much robbed from them.)

(You have so little you can give, even less thanks to that rotten excuse for a tyrant Discord. Isn't it so unfair that you who want to give the most have the least? Even when you had much, you could only help so much. You could only do so much...and in the end, helping everycreature simply wasn't possible. It was something that could not be done...especially when there's so much greed in this rotten world. Discord is proof of just how vile a thing greed is. His greed caused all of this. And it just trickles down from him. From the biggest king to the lowliness child, there's not one being in this world that isn't only out for themselves. Everyone takes what they can without thinking about others, everyone needs to give everything or it's not fair...so why not make it fair? Why not have much and share it with many?

Why not help make a Golden World for all?)

And thus the Nightmare of Infinite Generosity, the Fairest of Them All, Nightmare Charity was born.  And her influence spread across the land like a plague. All who were touched by it were frozen in  place, trapped in a gleeful admiration of her beauty and goodness. Pain, hunger, and other suffering no longer existed for them...but neither did change or progress. Neither did desire to move or do anything but bask in her beauty and be beautiful themselves...and to show and share this beauty with all around them.

---

Trixie looked out from the gathering place in an airship floating near Canterlot where the Bearers of Harmony had assembled. Not in the city proper, it'd been quickly absorbed by the Nightmare's influence and taint with startling swiftness. Along with the entire mountain and a good area around it. Cadence stood near by with the others, Spike staring through the window with tears in his eyes. All of them worried. “...It doesn't seem fair, does it?”

The Princess of Harmony trotted up and joined her. In the distance, the growing sphere of the Nightmare's influence grew bigger and bigger. No, not quite a sphere, as in a big globe, it was spread from pony to pony, from living thing to living thing in an ever expanding cycle. Discord and the Princesses were trying to hold it at bay, but found even they were having difficulty getting close without falling under the Nightmare's spell. The land itself was turning into a flawless expanse of beauty...that was frozen and static, completely still and unmoving. All that were in it seemed to glow with a beauty that was incomparable. Cadence shook her head. Just looking at it seemed to try and draw her into the Nightmare's spell. Shining Armor was currently keeping an eye on it, he was her knight and fairy tale prince, loyal and true she could trust him with anything. It's why he was perfect for the Element of Trust.

Cadence looked back to her fellow Princess. “...You mean this happening to Rarity?”

“...Yes...but also when it happened,” Trixie looked down at her hooves. “...All my life, I wanted to be special...that's how that thing with my mother's face kept me on its leash...now I finally get to do something, something I'm proud of...And something the world wanted and needed so very much...And now that we've finally won, here comes another threat before we can even truly celebrate or rebuild...the fact that it's Rarity is simply salt in a very deep wound...”

“...That was quite poetic...”

Trixie gave a sad chuckle. “It's in my nature I suppose. Ascended or not, I still enjoy my theatrics...” The Alicorn gave a frown. “...But...it just feels like the universe is cheating. Almost like it doesn't want us to have a happily ever after. ”

Cadence put a wing on Trixie's back. “...Please don't say that, I know this looks hopeless, but we'll find some way to get through this...”

Trixie chuckled. “...Hopeless? I've seen hopeless, Cadence...I've been hopeless since the day Discord put me under his spell until you saved me...my biggest problem was I always thought I didn't matter at all...that I was lesser and worthless...Now I'm worth something and have done something grand and worth celebrating. Trixie is not going to give up now that she's gotten those things, even if the universe itself conspires against her!”

Cadence blinked, looking at the mare's determination. She remembered the memories that she now had of her brother Leo, Spirit of Unstoppable Force and Power Given Purpose. Cadence couldn't help thinking that Trixie had his blessing. “...I think I believe you...come on, we have much to do.”

---

A farmer named Golden Carrot had spent all his life raising his family and tending to the family's ancestral garden. He had never been certain why it was so important to the family, only that it had been the dearest thing in his great grandmother Noi's world and she said she was keeping it for somepony very important to her. One day his great grandfather had stumbled on Noi and helped her with the garden, slowly turning Discord's taint on her into something more. And their family was born from that. And even if he didn't quite understand the why, he did understand what had sprung from it.

Now he was desperately setting up defenses for his family's homestead. They'd endured all these years despite everything Discord had thrown at them with their heads held high. They'd kept the garden growing no matter what horrible weather or awful thing was thrown their way. Whatever this new threat was, it couldn't compare to the King of Chaos himself, right?

...That was until he looked upon the spreading beauty of the land. Everything from the grass to the trees, to the birds themselves. Everything was just beautiful. Looking upon it was looking upon heaven itself. He dropped the weapon he was preparing to defend herself with as an equally beautiful white Alicorn with a mane so perfect not even a hair was out of place, split, or damaged. He saw his garden being equally as perfect when he looked in her eyes. Wouldn't that make Great Grandmother Noi proud?

Golden Carrot's wife Cooked Carrots opened the door to find her husband coming in, looking more beautiful than he had in so many years, smiling back at her, the image of a shining Alicorn seeming to be a permanent fixture in his eyes. She found herself lost in his perfect beauty and kissed him, then fell right in line with him.

Their daughter, little Strained Carrots, covered her eyes and hid, trying not to look. Her family had received that warning, but the little filly had taken it quite seriously.

She then heard a soft, beautiful hum. Beautiful beyond reason. The most beautiful thing she'd ever heard in her entire life. Hoofsteps crept up behind her, and even their sound was almost like a beautiful, perfect, entrancing song itself.

Shortly there after, the Carrot Family stood still as statues, Golden Carrots and Cooked Carrot in the perfect embrace while Strained Carrot was frozen in a perfect picture of frolicking at their feet. Having no desire to move an inch, completely content.

---

“Auntie Celestia and Auntie Luna say Rarity's, or rather 'Nightmare Charity's' influence is growing rapidly despite their and Discord's attempts to contain it,” Cadence explained. “And what's worse, everypony who's touched by it is spreading it to everypony around them...the more and more it infects, the faster it spreads. It's already covered the entire mountain and several miles of the surrounding area and is showing no signs of slowing down.”

“So Discord can turn the world to Tartarus with a snap of his fingers, but can't hold back one Nightmare?” asked Rainbow Dash, still showing some bitterness. Not quite at Discord, she knew the Elements had restored some good that used to be in him (he wouldn't have willingly stopped his rampage if it hadn't), but at the situation in general. It didn't seem fair that facing Discord's power had been nigh impossible, but now when he was on their side apparently Discord was useless...especially when it was their own corrupt friend they were facing.

Cadence gave a sigh. “He says it's the same reason Grogar's magic can fight his, this is magic based on pure order while his is pure chaos, the two repel one another like water and oil.”

The Chaos Six hadn't quite been 'broken in' when Grogar had arrived shortly after Discord took over the world, but they knew he had been one of the few times Discord had faced a significant challenge.

“Of course, we couldn't end up fighting a villain Discord could actually take out in a few seconds...” Rainbow complained, giving a sigh, her original characteristic confidence still seeming wounded.

---

Hello? Heeeeelllllloooooo!

...You're a cardboard cutout of myself!...You're stupid!...I love my daughter and will save her!...Want to hear the most annoying noise in the world?...The Princess Molestia articles were factual, well-written pieces of journalism!

...Huh...I guess she's really not here, she'd be absolutely livid for that last one...But...Rarity...The odds of her becoming a Nightmare, let alone one that my power can't directly effect?...Then again, I'm the last person to guess the odds, considering during my reign, two plus two equals fish...

...Maybe she thought my personality was destroyed, had a hissy fit, and went off to some corner of the multiverse to find a replacement Discord to torment now that I'm useless? After all, Dissy isn't me, he was one of my victims, so having revenge on him would make no sense...Hehe...

If in the end Eclipse is still lurking over all of this, at least I got something she can't take away.

...If she is still there...I...for the first time in my existence, I can't say I'm happy I don't know what I'll do...I like this time around...

---

“...Can we just blast her with the Elements from here?” Rainbow Dash asked, desperately, pleadingly. “Yeah, Rarity's Generosity, but we've got Alabaster, right?”

Cadence shook her head. “I'm afraid not. Even Auntie and Discord are having trouble keeping their magic in contact with Charity's for too long, there's a possibility we won't be able to do use the Elements on her without risking being corrupted by her power.”

Trixie showed a magical representation of wave length, two next to each other. One was light, the other was rainbow colored, Twilight making a few adjustment. “Order and Harmony are not the same thing, but the concepts are related. Against Grogar, this is not an issue, but THIS Nightmare is capable of spreading her spell through magic used on her. Sadly, that means there's a possibility using the Elements of Harmony would act as a conduit for this.”

“...It's weird hearing magic technobabble come out of Trixie's mouth...”

“It's not technobabble!” Twilight protested. “It's well researched facts!”

“Twilight is correct...and I'm getting used to it too, but it feels strangely natural,” the Azure Alicorn replied, giving a genuinely content smile.

It'd been an odd experience to not only have been freed by 'the Great and Powerful Trixie', but to find Trixie an Alicorn...who didn't brag about it every five seconds. While in her self-loathing she'd been waiting for Trixie to brag her head off about it and remind Rainbow Dash that she'd failed...instead, Trixie was surprisingly...humble as an Alicorn.

“Okay, so Elements can't work, what ARE we going to do?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “...Please tell me we haven't gone through all of this for nothing...” the annoyance in her tone sounding forced. Applejack merely put a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

Cadence look a bit hesitant. “...The only idea anypony has come up with is using the Elements of Chaos on her...”

“What?!” Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle asked in tandem. Fluttershy merely whimpered a little bit.

“You mean those things Discord replaced our hearts with?!” Rainbow asked, giving an almost violated, furious look.

“Those things weren't fun...” Pinkie Pie muttered, shaking her head with the same look of violation.

Trixie cringed at both the reaction and the accompanying look from the entire group. “I anticipated that reaction...”

Cadence put a wing on Twilight's back. “...I know what Discord did to you with the Elements of Chaos was horrible...beyond horrible...but the Elements of Chaos aren't evil in and of themselves...Auntie Luna explained that they've been used for evil many times, but she and Celestia even attempted to restore them and use them against Discord during his first reign...they're...sister Elements to your set...”

“Okay, so maybe those things weren't evil, but in case you forgot, they're still in our bucking chests,” Rainbow Dash replied, giving a glare.

Applejack sighed. “Sorry 'bout her but...it wasn't just 'he shoved 'em in us'...it felt like...Ah don't know, he was violating us...Ah...The idea that those things are still in us even if we are ourselves again...”

Trixie gave a frown and nodded slowly, noting the disturbed looks. “I shall not pretend to know what that was like...but do recall, we did not have the physical Elements of Harmony when we arrived at each Bearer, Applejack was the only one that already had one...and actually the circumstances are quite similar...”

Cadence stepped forwards. “The Elements of Chaos that Discord put inside you actually weren't things he just had laying around, they were your Elements of Harmony. He forced his own essence into them and expelled theirs...but he couldn't destroy it. It was easier for us to awaken them in others because the essence was free roaming and went to them...and like when the Element of Magic dissolved when Auntie Celestia used them to banish Luna, that meant when a new chosen Bearer was found, they were able to materialize physically in the same way...and when we defeated you and Discord, the reverse happened to the Elements of Chaos.”

The five ponies blinked in confusion, looking to each other and then back to their friends. “You mean we don't have the Elements of Chaos in us anymore?” asked Rainbow Dash, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah! Because I'm pretty sure I'm still immortal! I accidentally burned myself cooking and I still healed lickety split...well, not Lickety Split, me...” Pinkie Pie explained...then frowned as a look of realization on her face. “Oh yeah...he's...not around anymore...”

After a quick hug, Trixie cleared her throat. “You no longer possess the Elements of Chaos, because your Elements have been reverted back to Elements of Harmony...The Elements of Chaos now are in the same situation as your Elements. So logically, if we awaken Bearers of Chaos, their Elements should physically manifest the same way,” she explained, giving a smirk.

“We already have one, namely Fluttercruel...” Cadence explained...then frowned. “But unfortunately, she's still in Neighpon.”

Fluttershy looked a mix between sad and relieved. “...I'm sorry...”

“It's not your fault,” Cadence reassured, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “You had no way of knowing this was going to happen or we would need her, Fluttershy.”

“Be that as it may, we are not completely without substitutes,” Trixie interjected, giving a smile and putting a leg to her chest. “I believe I would make a fine Element of Fantasy-”

“Fantasy?” Applejack asked, cocking her head.

“According to Discord, that is the Element of Deceit's true, purified form. Discord has himself pointed out he could fill in for his daughter, as Dissy's learned a unique form of Empathy, that is the purified Cruelty, he never had before then. We do not need an Element of Tragedy, as Magic fills the role in both sets, so Twilight would do. Element of Courage, the true form of Rage, has several worthy candidates on board this very ship, such as Alabaster, who willingly risked his life to join us in our quest to save the world...Free Will, the positive version of Treachery, may be more difficult to find, but we can cross notes.”

“And the last one?” Twilight asked, taking a peak out the window at the growing ring of Charity's influence...and having to avert her eyes to avoid being entranced by it. She seemed to be getting impatient to know, now that a potential way to save Rarity was in reach.

“Desire, and I believe Spike might be just what we need for that one,” Trixie explained. “After all, who better fits the mold of Desire in it's positive form than a Dragon who desires nothing but for his friends to be safe and well?”

“Alright, good, let's find Spike then find an Element of Free Will already!” Rainbow Dash said, seeming a bit anxious to stop talking about the Elements of Chaos. “Then we can save Rarity and maybe actually celebrate.”

“...I thought Spike was watching through the window...” Trixie said, looking around, the big dragon eye staring through the window being suspiciously absent.

Twilight face suddenly turned pale. “...Please tell me he didn't do what I think he did...”

---

Come on! Enough reasons why we can't save Rarity! She's...oh Princess Celestia why did this happen?! We were...it was...I...

I finally had them back...after so long we were together again...why?

(It IS unfair, isn't it? You came so close to having your world back, then a disaster rips it away from you.)

Yeah...I thought we were through with the disasters...Rarity...why did it have to be HER? I...she...I'm older now!...Maybe...Maybe we could have...

(And now here you sit, waiting for that incompetent second rate replacement Magic to come up with something...unlikely.)

What else am I supposed to do? It's not like I can just-

(Talk to Rarity yourself.)

Talk to Rarity myself...I...I hadn't...

(After all, out of everypony here, who is she the most likely to listen to? Certainly not Trixie. You were the only one who ever understood her. And without little Sweetie Belle there, who else can save her from herself?)

---

I stood on the bow of the airship. It didn't even have a name yet, we'd had to launch it so quickly (hopefully not having time to christen a ship isn't as bad luck as the myths suggest). We'd been trying to rebuild some of what Discord had destroyed, this happened, and well, here we are.

We'd saved Twiley's friends and the world. Turned Discord good. Dealt with all his minions. Council of Reserve Minions?...Never heard of them.

That mare...Rarity...One bad day and then...this...

Oh! Sorry! I'm Shining Armor Sparkle, Twilight's big brother! And Cadence's coltfriend and, well, knight in shining armor...Yeah, I don't blame you for not knowing my name, I've been a suit of armor for all these years that never even left the castle...Ugh...having to watch Twiley be twisted into...

Worst part was not being able to help anypony...not Fluttercruel's victims, not Twiley, not even my Princess. Hard being a knight with no pony to protect.

And now one of her friends being twisted again...it's like a nightmare that doesn't end...Why am I out here? Element of Trust, who else could you trust to keep watch on this without getting pulled in?

...To be honest, for some reason looking at Charity's 'perfection'...makes me angry instead of wanting to worship her.

I've been having nightmares since Princess Cadence and Trixie made me myself again (thank all the deities, life with Cadence would be awkward if I spent it made of metal)...bad ones...

A shadow that took the shape of a fake Alicorn and tried to take over every story, not just her own. She desired to make her mother love her, to 'make everything happy', to make everything have a perfect happy ending and all because of her...and she stole the stories of others to make it happen. Then the shadow became a half deer half unicorn stag...stallion...THING. The shadow twisted the world to suit his vision of perfection and ripped the souls out of others...He...it desired nothing but an endless war where it could prove itself a hero. Not just a hero, to be seen as the GREATEST hero and be what everyone wanted so everyone would love him...That was its vision of perfection...and it'd do anything, I mean anything to make it real...The things it did...

There was even one part where he schemed to marry Cadence, glad that never happened.  The guy saw her as a trophy, not a wife. Me? She's everything to me. I'm her shield, she's not my trophy.

The weird part? I understood every word even if my dream wasn't in Equestrian... Did I study the deer language? I... I can't remember.

I think the dreams came from something I'd seen happen in the castle, I think while I was that robot...armor...thingie.

The Hooviet Empire sent a super soldier to the palace to try and stop Discord...he said he was a 'mighty hero here to save all the helpless little ponies,' his words, not mine...Discord won (obviously). Weird part is the Hooviet Empire got wiped out years before I was turned into armor, must have been some remnant.

“Shining!”

“Twilight?”

Twilight came galloping up to me as fast as her legs could carry her. “What's wrong?”

She looked worried...and considering I'm the one watching the entire country be slowly taken over by a Nightmare, that can't be a good sign.

“Is the Princess okay?” I asked.

“She's fine, but have you seen Spike? We can't find him anywhere!”

“Uh, yeah, I think he said he had something to do and he'd be back, then he flew off...”

We both slowly turned towards Charity's captured land...

“...Horseapples...”

---

Alright, remember to wear you blindfold, Spike, find Rarity by scent.

(Do you even know her scent?)

No, but I know her favorite perfume's, and she literally took a bath in it before this happened to wash off the stink of being Rarigreed for this long.

There it is...okay, remember to move slow but quick, don't want to squash anypony...now come on Rarity, where are you?!

“Spike? Is that you, Spike?”

“Rarity!”

No, I can't see her...but her voice...it sounds so...No Spike! Don't fall for it! You're here to save her, not join her!

“Why are you wearing that blindfold, Spike? Don't you want to look at me?”

Oh I do...I do so much...if her voice is this beautiful...no! Fight it!

“Rarity, please! Stop this! I'm begging you!”

“Me? Stop?...Spike, do you want me to take back what I've given all these ponies?”

“You're turning them into lifeless statues! You're not giving them anything!”

“Lifeless? No, not at all. What I've done for them is nothing like that, Spike. I've given them an end to hunger, an end to pain, and end to suffering. I've shared my beauty with them. Made them flawless and perfect. How could that possibly be a bad thing, Spikey Wikey?”


She runs a hoof down my cheek...that feels so nice...her fur is flawless, like silk...no, calling it like silk would be an insult, this is so much...UGH! No! Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Trixie, everypony! Keep your head on straight! Stay Loyal Mr. Loyalty!

“That's the black magic talking, Rarity! It's like a parasite! The real you would know this is wrong!”

“Oh Spike, is that what you think? Dear, it's nothing like that...” I feel her set down next to me.

“Then what is it?”

“I chopped off a piece of my tail and gave it to that sea serpent, we first met while I was preparing decorations for the Summer Sun Celebration the day Nightmare Moon escaped, and the first words you ever heard me say were 'No...no...no...Goodness no!' as I was picking out the proper colored ribbon for the décor. And Twilight's mane was an absolute mess.”

“That's...exactly right...”

Before I can react, my blindfold came undone. I try to close my eyes quickly, but...

Rarity...she's...so beautiful...I've never seen anything so beautiful...my horde feels like it's nothing but trash looking at her...I want to close my eyes but...no, I can't bring myself to want to.

“Now Spike, would an evil, black magic parasite controlling me like a puppet remember that so perfectly?” she asked, hugging me.

“...N-No...it wouldn't...”

“Then I'm me, I'm Rarity...Now come...share in the bounty like everything else...”

She...was Rarity...why did I ever want to stop her? It's so clear now...We were so wrong, this wasn't a nightmare, it was a dream come true! This is...this is!

“...Perfect...”

I looked at myself. My scales were so polished and shined that I could see myself in them. My muscles were perfectly toned. That toothache I'd had for the last few weeks after Discord force fed me half the castle's candy store with extra anti-floride is gone!...My breath even smells good...

Why would anycreature not want this? We were so deluded...we were wrong...

“I know. And soon everything, everywhere will be as perfect as we are. It'd be selfish to not share what we have with everything from the biggest dragon to the smallest bird, wouldn't it?” she said, with perfect sincerity. Not one ounce of dishonesty in her voice. This wasn't manipulation, it was just...her...

“It would be selfish...”

“Good.”

She hugged me. I hugged her back. We were both perfect. We'd be a perfect couple...like I always wanted us to be...what more could I want? I didn't want anything...how could I?

“I've wanted to share it with our friends, but I'm afraid they ran from me...they just don't understand, I want to share this,” my perfect Rarity points to the beautiful perfect land around us. The perfection she gave everything around us. That she wanted to give the entire world. “Nothing wrong. No fear, no pain, no suffering. That's what I want to give them...”

Perfection shouldn't need to want anything. Perfection wanting something...that is a taint...

“...I know where they are...”

To Be Continued