Discord.
The name echoed in my head, a cacophony i couldn’t be rid of.
A lot of lay ponies who know little or nothing of magic think of spellcasting as a lot of silly formulas and odd words. This isn’t the case; wizards and spellcasters don’t need this kind of complications. I did know of wizards that cast spells by pronouncing incantations and formulas, however. In the past i used to laugh at that practice, but the moment i heard that word, my opinion changed. Once i felt the devastation caused in me by the mere mention of that name, i realized how much power words can impart.
Discord.
The Laughing Lord, as the Zebras called him.
I stood for a few minutes, in complete awe, staring blankly ahead.
My breathing sped up, and couldn’t help emitting a faint whimper.
I wasn't thinking. I wasn't evaluating options. My mind was simply filled in that moment with the absolute certainty that i had released Discord into the world.
Or that i was going to.
Zecora shook me from my torpor.
“Twilight, this is no time to stay mute!
If we are in danger, we must use every minute!”
It took me a few seconds to gather enough calm to speak.
“We are in more danger than you think.” i said. “Rainbow is controlled... possessed... by the creature from the Canterlot caverns. And I’m afraid i have no idea how to free her.”
Zecora nodded.
“If a spell to destroy it had ever been found
they would not have resorted to merely keeping it bound.”
“Well... the princess would still prefer to imprison the creature than to destroy them. But... a servant of Discord...” I paused, uncertain as to how I could finish that sentence. The simple fact that someone could willingly serve Discord was almost inconceivable. Perhaps the creature didn't want to serve him, but merely to use his powers... another concept which made little sense. How could any expert wizard think they could use a power which is, by its own nature, completely uncontrollable?
“You said the fiend spoke to you short ago
perhaps it's better if you explain me all you know.”
I quickly explained to her what Rainbow had told me the previous night. It was a good opportunity for myself as well, I reasoned, to clear my mind about what I had learned.
The creature, who was Sombra's mentor, had possessed a book written by Discord himself which contained secrets of black magic. The creature had been captured by Celestia something like eight hundred years prior, and the Princess had taken the book away. However, it could not be hidden because it would actively try to escape. And now the creature, while still imprisoned in the caverns, was controlling Rainbow Dash so that we could find the book and use it to free it.
Zecora pondered on what I had said for a while. She said nothing, as her eyes darted back and forth across the room, a concerned expression on her face. As soon as i opened my mouth, she gestured me to wait. She resumed her motionless concentration.
I want to the kitchen to make some tea, deciding i had to clear my mind as well. The numbness caused by having missed hours of sleep was catching up to me. The light of the dawn was already slithering its way into the library, extending itself through the open windows and door. The breeze coming in brought with itself that peculiar smell of a sunny morning following a rainy night.
I deliberately took a long time preparing the tea, pondering my options. The obvious choice was to visit the Princesses. Using the Elements of Harmony was the only safe way to defeat Discord.
All i had to do was gather all six and...
And Rainbow Dash was not going to comply. To use the Elements, she had to be willing... and the creature possessing her would have never wanted to come close to the elements, let alone use them. And i knew too well that using the elements without all of them being present and ready was pointless.
I evaluated other options; my spell seemed to control the affection, but while that could limit the symptoms, it didn’t seem to cure the disease, that is, to expel the creature. And even then, i didn’t know whether i could keep it up forever...
I returned to Zecora. She was standing, eyes closed, mumbling to herself; i noticed her mumbling had the same poetic cadence of her normal speech. For a few seconds i stood still, wondering whether i should interject. I tried to understand what she was saying, eventually realizing she was speaking in her native language.
“Do you think we should warn the princesses?” i asked.
“The first time they tried to hold it at bay
They had no other defense than locking it away.
Perhaps they have the power to contrast our foe
But for Rainbow Dash, it will mean utter woe”
“They may have locked up the creature, but it doesn’t mean they’d do the same to Rainbow Dash!”
“The Princess would risk the safety of the nation
To save just one pony from devastation?”
She sounded genuinely incredulous, to the point she had me question my certainty about it. I decided i was right- the Princesses would never imprison an innocent.
“Of course!” i said “They would never abandon one of their subjects.”
“If you think you can give them your trust
Then i will help you do what we must
Let us send word that we need their aid
And hope I’m wrong to be afraid.”
She remained with her mouth open, as if to say something more, then changed her mind. For a little while i waited, wondering if she had other doubts or if i should say anything. I took a sip of hot tea, hoping it would help me to stay awake. I brought quill, ink and paper to the table.
Having decided to write to the Princesses, there still was the issue of deciding what to write. I felt secure, at least, in the fact that this time i had not done anything wrong. At the same time i felt somewhat guilty in doing it. Maybe it was because the last time i had spoken to Celestia about this matter, i had disappointed her more than ever in my life. But as i lifted the quill and prepared to write, another though entered my mind. That i felt somewhat loyal to the creature. It had said i had a reason not to betray it, and at the time i didn’t mind that too much. Now that i knew what the creature served, i should have cared even less. Still, there was something, some kind of connection with that creature which i felt bad about breaking.
I slowly pushed myself to write the first words.
Dear Princess Celestia
I stopped, again. How exactly could i convey the gravity of the situation?
Zecora looked at me, puzzled.
“What is wrong with you, Twilight?
What is the cause of this sudden affrigh?”
“I... i don’t know.”
“I taught you stay focused in the face of fear
Don’t let your worry get to you here.”
“You’re right. What do you think i should write?”
“I don’t know the formalities of your princess’ court
But given the circumstances, we should probably cut short.
We need to tell them the creature is at large
And hope they’re wise in how they take charge.”
“You’re right.”
I quickly wrote:
Dear Princess Celestia
Even though we thought the creature from the Canterlot Dungeon was defeated, it is still free. We need assistance to rid Rainbow Dash from its
I hesitated again. The word possession had an unpleasant feel, as though even writing it could make me a little sick.
possession and return it to its prison. Using the elements is not possible as it seems more than able to control Rainbow’s actions. Please answer immediately.
Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.
Zecora nodded in agreement. Without even bothering to tie up the message, i ran to Spike. The dragon had just woken up; he was still yawning, his eyes betraying the desire to get right back to sleep. Pewee was flying around him, loudly tweeting and chirping. The little phoenix had proven to be the most efficient alarm clock and i was ever grateful for her capacity to get spike out of bed at reasonable hours.
“Look alive, Spike! I have a letter to send!”
He mumbled something incomprehensible and most likely unpleasant.
“Just one little letter, Spike. Come on, it’s important.”
I handed him the page. Pewee landed on the dragon’s shoulder, with its eyes wide open and looking intently at the writing. Ever since she had arrived at the library, i had noticed how the written word tended to confuse and interest the little phoenix in equal measure.
Spike looked at the page with half-open eyes. Slowly and sleepily he breathed in a few times and finally sent the letter.
“And don’t go back to sleep, we’re waiting for a reply.”
He mumbled something else and walked to the bathroom.
We waited for a little while, saying nothing. Around us the noises of the village waking up could barely penetrate the walls and reached us reduced to faint, indistinguishable echoes.
We waited. Every second felt longer than the previous one. Zecora wasn’t very talkative, as usual.
During the time i had been training with her, we spent very little time in idle chat, and now was no difference; if anything, the gravity of the situation was even more reason to avoid small talk.
I realized there was one thing i had to ask.
“You said zebras know Discord as Laughing Lord? What does he look like in your culture?”
After a sigh, she answered.
“A demon of chaos, always wearing a smile
Powerful, crazy, and endlessly vile
He dances a dance since the beginning of time
and invites all creatures to join in his rhyme.
He can create nothing, and nothing destroys
but all that exists he transforms in his toys;
they say he took magic when it was but a dim light
and transformed a small power into incredible might
all wizard and sages in my land pay their due
for they say if you displease Him, he may destroy you.
For centuries he has been kept away from our land
But everyone knows his danger is still grand.
Few worship him and would like him to be back
Many more would rather repel his attack.”
“So there are zebras in you land who serve Discord. This would never happen in Equestria...”
“I wouldn’t be sure they don’t exist at all
The power of chaos does many enthrall
They hide and plot from behind the shades
Ponies disguised with many charades.”
I didn’t know how to answer. Perhaps we should have looked into these chaos-worshiping ponies at a later date; now, the creature of the caverns was our priority. I was surprised no reply had arrived yet.
“Spike!” i called.
He didn’t reply.
“SPIKE!”
Still no reply.
Without saying a single word, bot of us sprung up and ran to the bathroom.
I stopped when i saw the immobile purple body lying on the floor.
“Spike!” i ran to check on him. He seemed to have hit his head on the floor so hard it had knocked him out.
“Twilight! Quickly, look that way!
That creature is carrying a scroll away!”
It took me a few seconds to process both Zecora’s instruction and the fact that she had found a way to rhyme even in this state of urgency. I looked where she was pointing. A creature was, indeed, carrying off a scroll with the Royal Seal.
It was Peewee.
I telekinetically took hold of the scroll and tugged it towards me. The force with which the phoenix pulled almost knocked me down. I struggled to keep control against its enormous brute strength, pushing my power to the limit. I could not believe it: a creature so small pulled harder than a whole stampede.
I was afraid to be locked in a stalemate, because my endurance wouldn’t have held for long, not against such a monstrous opponent.
Suddenly, i felt the phoenix’s strength fading. Zecora, standing beside me, was staring at Peewee with incredible intensity. She muttered a few, incomprehensible words; i felt the phoenix weakening her grip and pulled harder. Peewee’s little claws started scathing the paper, desperately trying to hold on.
I let her have it for a fraction of a second, just enough for her to let her guard down. Then i threw all my remaining strength in one last pull. The scroll fell to the ground in front of me.
The the phoenix shrieked.
It wasn’t its normal voice. It wasn’t any voice. It was a deafeningly loud, unnatural screech, resembling a train’s brakes more than the sound made by a living being. After that, it flew off to the east, its brightly-colored body quickly disappearing in the light of the sun.
“How could that little phoenix have such strength in its wings?
Ever since that day in Canterlot, we’re surrounded by mysterious things.”
“That day in Canterlot... That’s it! How have i been able to ignore it until now? Peewee was the first to enter the crystal cave! It was the first one to be possessed... that’s how the creature from the cave was able to know we were there! It has been spying on me ever since!”
“So its might is a reflection of the creature’s dark magic
And it’s flown out of our reach; the situation is tragic.”
“It didn’t want us to read the letter... this must mean it’s onto us. I just hope the spell i cast to protect Rainbow lasts at least until she gets back.”
“Read the Princess letter and see what she said
I’ll make sure Spike didn’t injure his head.”
I nodded and picked up the letter. Despite the scratches, it was still readable.
What struck me first was how short and concise it was, devoid of the flourishes and embellishments of Celestia’s prose.
The situation is dire. Tell no one of what you know: the enemy has spies. Come to Canterlot at once, alone; the Elements of Harmony won’t be able to help us this time. Make haste. We need to stop Starswirl before it’s too late.