//------------------------------// // Rotten Heart and Discord // Story: My Little Layton: Puzzles are Magic // by sailor sunburst //------------------------------// “I can’t find any passageways! Did you two find any passages?” Shining Armor asked to Layton and Flora. “I believe we are stuck, because I can’t seem to find anything.” Professor Layton replied. “But Professor! We must find a way out, we simply must!” Flora replied. “If we don’t, Luke could be in great trouble!” “And the whole of Equestria would be in great danger as well!” Shining Armor added on. “Now, now, settle down. We’ll find a way out, I know we will.” Layton replied. “Now, you said that there was an abandoned miner’s shaft somewhere? One that your sister and your wife traveled down to stop you from marrying a fake bride?” Layton asked. “Yeah. But you said it might be blocked off.” Shining Armor replied. He and Layton started discussing on how to find a way out. Flora sighed and walks off, laying down when she was far enough away ‘oh Luke… I hope you’re okay…’ she thinks to herself. She hears the buzz of insect wings. She looks around, thinking that a bug was nearby. She then saw the figure of a changeling pass by. He sat down himself, not seeming to notice flora. She looked behind her, where shining armor and the professor were still talking, and said quietly to the sad-looking changeling “are you alright?” the changeling looked up. It seemed to be a foal changeling. “y-yeah…” he said “I’m fine…” “no you’re not. You’re obviously upset about something.” Said flora “shouldn’t you be the one upset? You’re the one locked in there.” said the changeling “true, but I’d hate it if I was stuck underground all the time. I mean, at least I have a chance of being able to leave.” Said flora. The changeling frowned “sorry… that was the wrong thing to say” she continued, blushing “doesn’t make it any less true…” said the changeling “hey… why don’t you talk like the other changelings?” asked flora “what do you mean?” it asked back “well, the other changelings hiss with their S’s, why don’t you?” The changeling shrugged “everyone knows I’m different. All of us changelings want out, but I don’t think we need to do anything bad. It’s because we do bad things that the equestrians don’t like us and won’t give us a second chance above the ground.” “the professor says it’s important to give second chances.” Said flora “is that professor guy your father or something?” asked the changeling “no… but some time ago, he adopted me. He and his apprentice were investigating a mystery surrounding my home village. He adopted me from my step mother when they solved what we call “the mystery of the golden apple.” Said flora. She pointed to her cutie mark “which, actually, was me. Whoever was smart enough to discover that I myself was the villages golden apple would be able to be my guardian. Papa died when I was younger, so the professor has always been like a father to me ever since he adopted me.” “ponies are so weird…” muttered the changeling “and I could say the same thing about changelings.” Said flora “…okay, I see your point.” Said the changeling, chuckling “you know, you’re kind of funny.” “you’re not like the others. You’re… nicer.” Said flora, smiling. “…thanks.” Said the changeling, giving a small smile as well “flora?” called the professor “coming professor!” flora called back. She turned to the changeling “I have to go…” “come back again tomorrow? It’s nice having someone to talk to.” Said the changeling “I’ll try.” Said flora. She went back to the professor and shining armor. With Luke and the others in Ponyville, spike and twilight were searching hard for the book. “Agh!” groaned twilight “you know what spike? Just send a letter to princess Celestia for me please? I think she has a copy.” “sure thing.” Said spike. Just then he burped out a puff of flame, a scroll falling into his claw. Twilight levitated it over and read it, her eyes darting to and fro across the parchment “ah, no!” she groaned “what’s the matter?” asked Luke “discords on his way…” sighed twilight “the princess is sending him because she thinks he might be able to help.” “whose discord?” asked Luke “a spirit of disharmony and chaos. We’ve fought with him a couple of times, but we finally managed to get him to use his powers properly and NOT cause trouble everywhere.” Said twilight. She walked upstairs and came down a minute later, wearing a tiara and levitating a box beside her. “I’ll be back in a bit, I need to go stop by each of my friends’ homes and give them their element of harmony. Spike, while I’m gone, write a letter to the princess and ask her if she has a copy of that book on changelings.” “you got it, twilight!” said spike as twilight headed out the door. “spike, what are the elements of harmony?” asked Luke. “Ummm…” said spike, going over to a shelf “ah, here it is!” and he pulled a book titled ‘the elements of harmony’ “here, that book will explain it all.” Said spike as he handed it to Luke, who got to reading it. “The Elements of Harmony…the most powerful force in all of Equestria. There are 6 Elements, and they embody all that’s good. But will only work for the one who has that particular trait. There’s kindness, honesty, loyalty, generosity, laughter, and magic. But, also known as friendship. Hmm…interesting.” Luke said as he read aloud. “Yep! Twilight has friendship, Fluttershy has kindness, Rainbow Dash has loyalty, Rarity has generosity, Applejack has honesty, and Pinkie Pie has laughter.” Spike explained. “so if this discord person is on our side, why is twilight giving the elements to her friends when I assume she normally keeps them here?” asked Luke “well, the girls don’t exactly trust discord yet. Well… except for Fluttershy.” Said spike “her and discord actually get along pretty well, since Fluttershy was the only one who actually bothered to give discord a second chance.”. A bit later, twilight came home “there. each of the girls have their elements and are getting ready. They should be here soon.” Said twilight. “the letter said that discord would also be here soon.” “let’s hope he doesn’t cause trouble.” Said spike “please. Discord is all about attention. If there are changelings stealing his spotlight, he’s going to want to drive them out like us. The problem is getting him to do it RIGHT.” Said twilight. Each of the girls arrived fairly soon “I can’t believe the princess is sendin’ discord…” said applejack “oh come on applejack, we did reform him.” Said Fluttershy “and personally, I’m glad he’s coming.” “that’s because you got all buddy-buddy with him!” said rainbow dash “I don’t care if the princess thinks he can help, we can do this without him!” “he may be able to help find changelings with his powers.” Said twilight. Luke became interested then, but didn’t show it too much. A bit later, there was a knock at the door. When twilight answered it, she saw a unicorn with a brown coat, tail, and beard streaked with gray. “umm… can I help you?” she asked “what, you don’t recognize me, miss sparkle?” asked the pony “oh my, discord, is that you?” asked Fluttershy “at least somepony recognized me.” Said discord “did the princess make you do this? I highly doubt you’d disguise yourself on your own.” Said applejack “as clever as ever, aren’t you applejack? Yes, Celestia did make me disguise myself. She said ponies would be scared to see a draconoquis around. So this was the disguise we agreed upon.” Said discord. He spotted Luke coming down the stairs “and you must be Luke. I was expecting a human.” “and I wasn’t expecting a pony.” Said Luke “how clever. You’re not as proper and behaved as Celestia made you out to be.” Said discord “we just might get along, you and me, Mr. triton.” He saw the professor and frowned, sensing something… off. “say, twilight, I’ve had a bit of a tiring journey, you wouldn’t mind if I got something to eat, would you?” he asked “she wouldn’t mind at all, would you twilight?” asked Fluttershy “no. I suppose not. You eat what we eat though.” Said twilight “and we have our elements, so if you cause any trouble-“ “twilight dear, I’m reformed remember? Your words cut me like a knife!” said discord, staging a hurt look. He walked towards the kitchen, giving Luke a small look “I’m thirsty myself. I’ll go join discord.” Said Luke. He followed discord into the kitchen “you have suspicions as well?” Luke whispered to him “something is off about him. There’s something off about you, but with him it’s… different. I know you’re really human, which explains you, but from your friend, I’m not getting that same off feeling. It feels…” said discord “darker?” finished Luke. Discord nodded “your intuitive kid. I like that about you.” He said “thanks, I guess.” Said Luke “so… any ideas on how we can find out whether or not that’s the real professor?” “I may know a handy little spell. If we’re right, it will break the changelings disguise and show it for what it is. If we’re wrong and that’s the real professor, it won’t hurt him and no one will have to know.” Luke nodded “I don’t like doing anything behind the professors back, he’s like family to me, but if that’s a changeling, then I don’t have much of a choice. We need to make sure to capture it before it gets away though.” He said “be ready then. If it’s a changeling, then we won’t have much time once I cast the spell” said discord. “alright. I trust you.” Said Luke They went back a minute later. As the girls discussed ideas on their next plan of action, Luke and discord snuck upstairs to where the changeling professor was. Discord took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His horn glowed as he prepared the spell “get ready, kid.” He said. When the spell was cast, the changelings disguise was lowered. It hissed in anger as it realized what happened. Luke quickly ran, ready to tackle it. The changeling knocked Luke against a wall, where he fell to the ground. The girls went quiet as they heard the commotion. As the changeling went to get away, a purple light shown around It as twilight kept it in place “not so fast!” she said “you big meanie! Tell us where the professor is!” said Fluttershy “yeah! And where’s shining armor too?!” said rainbow dash “I’m sssssaying nothing!” hissed the changeling “sssshe’d have my head!” “who, chrysalis? You’re dead if you talk, and you’re dead if you aren’t! if you don’t talk, we’ll take you to Celestia and she’ll make you talk.” Said discord “so, you have nothing to lose right now.” “catacombssss beneath Canterlot. I’ll ssssay no more!” said the changeling “do what you will, but I’m done talking!” “always the catacombs…” muttered twilight “discord, make it so this thing can’t get away. I need to send a few letters.” Discord imprisoned the changeling as twilight started sending letters and everyone prepared to trek through the catacombs. With flora, the professor, and shining armor the next day, flora had kept an eye out for the changeling from the previous day. Finally, he came. “you came! I was worried you’d forgotten.” Said flora, sneaking over “sorry it took me so long. My mother had a lot of tasks for me.” “I wasn’t aware changelings could have children.” Said flora “we’re not too different from you ponies… it’s just that we look so different we’re forced to cause such trouble… I’ve long given up on trying to convince my mother that we should try for peace. She won’t hear a word of it…” “it’s always sad when we can’t along with family… in life, family is all you have.” Said flora. The changeling nodded “what’s your name?” flora asked “oh… umm…” said the changeling “it’s… umm…” “what?” asked flora “don’t you have a name?” “I do… I just don’t like it… its Rotten Heart…” said the changeling quietly “well, my names Flora.” Said flora “flora, huh? That’s a pretty name.” said the changeling “oh, thank you! My mother loved flowers, and her name was a flower too. Her name was violet.” Said flora. The changeling chuckled “did your family own a flower shop?” “no. my father was a baron. He and mother died when I was little.” Said flora “I lived in a nice house for a while, and then I met the professor.” “you know flora, you’re… umm… your very pretty…” said rotten heart “oh!” said flora, blushing “well… Ummm… th-thank you…” “I-I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that!” said rotten heart “I’m so stupid!” “no, it’s okay!” said flora “it’s just… the only other person who’s said that is my best friend Luke… he’s the professors apprentice.” “yeah… mother says that changelings will be sent after him soon… just as soon as she can find a suitable one to take his place and trick the element bearers…” said rotten heart “poor Luke… I hope he’s okay…” said flora. She paused “oh, my! I really shouldn’t be so worried about Luke, it will strengthen my changeling self!” “actually, that changeling was forced to flee. Your friend Luke figured her out… same with the changeling we sent to take the professors place. We can’t send more because now they know you guys are here…” said rotten heart “that’s good then! They should be here soon!” said flora, smiling “well… there are traps set for them. My mother even set them herself…” he turned away, looking guilty “and… and… Luke’s being saved for last… I’ve been given the task of brainwashing them to serve the changelings when he’s separated from the others… we’re going to force him to kill you and all the others!” flora’s world seemed to stop. she had always thought heartbreak was just a word, but there was a pain in her chest. “l-Luke…” she whispered “no! no! Luke will fight it! He won’t hurt us!” she said, shaking her head “no! no! it can’t be!” she turned to rotten heart “please! Please! I know I barely know you, but you have to get us out of here! Even if you can’t free us yourself, surely there’s some hidden passage?!” “I don’t want you hurt flora… I don’t want to disobey my mother, though…” he looked down, his eyes closed. “I’ll tell you where the hidden passage is, but… you have to try and get me my freedom!” he said, looking at flora “please! You know I’m not like the others, and I’ll prove it to however many people I need to! Take me with you! I hate being down here in the dark, I want to run around on the surface with other ponies!” “I’ll do my best.” Said flora “I give you my word. Now, tell me where the passage is. I can’t let anyone get hurt.”