//------------------------------// // A Disease of Discord (revised for 2020) // Story: Grey Little Pony // by Dusty Miller //------------------------------// Chapter Eleven: A Disease of Discord “In examining disease, we gain wisdom about anatomy and physiology and biology. In examining the person with disease, we gain wisdom about life.” ― Oliver Sacks Grey stood on the rock by the steps of Princess Luna’s Everfree forest palace. His self-chosen Royal Guard Pony position. He was cloud watching. That is to say, daydreaming. The clouds were evenly spaced, with dark flat bottoms and bright white fluffy tops. They moved slowly and uniformly. And it all seemed unnatural to a former resident of Ponyville where the seasons are changed physically. How do they know how to stay at the same height without Pegasi to guide and herd them? All those clouds are moving at the same pace, yet they’re all evenly spaced, shouldn’t they be bunching up like animals would? I know that clouds are just water deliverers, but these ones are acting like living things. I wonder if that is it? Things in the Everfree are living thinking things. Grey turned his attention to the edge of the forest where it touched the field. The leaves rustled without the assistance of a breeze. They made a sound like when ponies whisper about you behind your back. Grey jumped when Princess Luna spoke from the veranda. “I apologise, I did not mean to startle you. I know you have friends back in Ponyville.” Grey pulled back his ears. “A disease is coming. We believe that it is an offshoot of a contagion Discord used against us Alicorns in the ancient times. It re-emerges every century or so. It flares up at one end of Equestria and spreads across the land like a wildfire. If you have limited contact with the Everfree forest creatures and no contact with anypony for a month you shall be fine. My sister and I are not affected by the new versions of the disease.” “That’s fine, Princess. Thank you for thinking of me. I’m content to stand guard here.” “Am I making assumptions? You don’t mind being isolated?” “I’ve been isolated my whole life. It’s not a hardship for me.” “If you become infected here, I won’t be able to help you. You will have to return to Ponyville to let the illness run its course. If you are alone when you have the disease you will die of dehydration. My sister and I will be coordinating relief efforts while analysing this new version of the disease from Canterlot.” Grey’s ears perked, “Your Highness, I have an idea, with your permission.” “Pony this is not a challenge. This is deadly serious. The disease will be extremely difficult on the young and old. You have absolutely no medical training. What can you offer?” “I offer myself as I assume a guard pony should. I so want to help and be the best guard I can be for my princess. You said the disease will start in one part of Equestria. Take me there and I will catch it with the first ones and then you can try cures on me.” “Understand this. There is no cure. The disease is different every time it emerges. Experimenting on a pony is considered unethical.” “It can't be unethical if I volunteer, can it? And things are different now. You’re back. You have your night garden with those strange Everfree forest plants. You could make a potion or a tea. There is a new pony, I hear she may be a zebra, living in the Everfree forest who knows a lot about plants and cures. If a cure can’t be found, maybe we can reduce the suffering.” Grey was wide eyed with the exciting possibility of helping all of Equestria. “Let me tell you what the Canterlot scientists think about this disease before you make any decision. The germ is different from any other germ they have ever seen. It is small and difficult to observe even under the most powerful microscopes. It does not grow, it does not eat, and it refuses to live outside the host body. Some don’t consider it alive. Our scientists became upset when they discovered this microbe entering and changing the coding of an ordinary germ. They don’t know if the common cold and flu are offshoots of this disease of Discord’s. What say you now?” Grey’s ears perked forward, “Let’s do it. How do we start?” “I must admit, I’m feeling a certain creative energy I haven’t felt in a long while. I do have some ideas myself that do involve some of my night plants. But first, let’s get you sick.” /]*[\ Princess Luna and Grey materialized on a trail that led to a small town. It only had a few buildings and cottages. Luna changed her size from Alicorn to that of a unicorn, slightly smaller than Grey. Her mane and tail stopped flowing and became silky dark blue hair. The stars that adorned her settled down into diamond constellation barrettes. Her wings were tucked flat against her and were impossible to see unless one knew what to look for. They were met by an elderly white unicorn. “I’m sorry, we are under quarantine. Unless you have been infected, you must turn back now.” “Thank you for your concern, but we are fine. My associate and I would like to learn about how the disease has affected your village.” Luna asked, “Do you have a sick house or infirmary?” The old unicorn answered, “We are using the town hall as we do in such emergencies.” Luna turned to Grey, “Why don’t you go say hello and find out all that you can. I shall stay here and talk to the mayor.” The mayor shot a glance at Luna. Grey walked into the town hall. It was a long room with a table of glasses and pitchers of water at the entrance. Cots were set up with the head of the bed at the wall and an aisle down the centre of the hall. Half of the cots were now empty. Grey was met by a small Pegasus. Her colour was off white with a black mane, tail, and black wingtips. “Are you sick?” she asked. “Please drink some water before you fall unconscious.” “I’m fine. I’ve come to learn as much as I can in a short time.” The pegasus was eager to pass on what she had learned, “Finally, we’ve felt so isolated since the disease arrived. First is the nausea and vomiting until they are empty. Then three days of fever dreams. This is when we must force fluids. Remember this when you go to help, ‘force fluids’. Then we have the stage we’re at now, ponies trying to stand when they are too weak. We try to convince them not to, but they feel they must. Remember how it was with you?” Grey nodded in reflex. He then helped the Pegasus try to prevent an earth pony from standing. The stallion had a pair of worn-out overalls covering his solid muscular frame, but he was as weak as a kitten. Grey helped as best he could in the sick house until he got the feeling in the back of his head that it was time to leave. He wished the Pegasus the best of luck and apologized for not being able to stay longer. Grey walked outside towards Luna and the mayor. He felt gripped by an uncontrollable urge to lower his head and raise his tail. Grey brayed-belched and passed wind with such force it shook his whole body. He lowered his tail and stood there red faced in front of his princes and the mayor of the little village. Luna rolled her eyes, “Aaand that is why we call it Discord’s Discharge. Discord made it to prank Alicorns and get some easy laughs. When he became bored with the results, he abandoned the disease to Equestria.” The mayor saw Grey’s release and snapped at Luna. “You said you had been infected and were thus immune.” “Oh, but I am immune. WE dealt with the contagion a thousand years ago. It wasn’t humorous then as it is not humorous now. You made the assumption that my assistant and I were both resistant. I allowed that misunderstanding to expedite our mission. This pony has volunteered to become infected in the early days of the plague to become a research subject.” Luna shook her mane and tail back to their usual flowing stellar form. She then stretched her wings as her tiara appeared. The mayor dropped to the ground trying to bow, “Nightmare… my apologies. Your Highness. I’m sorry, I did not know it was you.” Luna caught him. Not with magic, but with her forelegs. Grey was astonished at her speed and gentleness. “I did not wish you to know.” She smiled at the mayor as she placed him on his hooves, “I am sorry for the deception. We do not have time for the usual formalities of etiquette. Know that your town will be instrumental in helping the rest of Equestria. When your ponies are well, please send them to the next communities that become infected and pass on what you have learned. I am deeply sorry there was nothing my sister or myself could do to help your town.” Grey was still red faced with shame. He had not witnessed this kind side of Princess Luna. /]*[\ Luna and Grey appeared in the kitchen of the Everfree forest palace. It was extremely clean without a hoof smear or a hair anywhere. It was like a catalogue photograph of the perfect kitchen. Luna told Grey to go gather straw and pile it up in the corner where he would sleep. “I will show you what I am going to do and as I do it. I want you to tell me everything you feel. Your ideas about tea intrigued me, along with some of the medicinal aspects of the night plants and what the mayor told me about the disease has stimulated me.” Luna used her magic to gather kettles and pots to boil water on the great stove. It had been about an hour since Grey left the sick house. Grey stood at attention, “I wish to formally apologize for my behaviour. I disgraced myself in front of both you and the mayor of that little town.” Luna hummed, “Is that so. What happened to you is about to happen to everypony you have ever met. Sometimes the Discharge of Discord will blow the feathers off a Pegasus. Or fires magic out of both ends of a unicorn. Art thou brave enough to ask how it affected myself?” Grey slurred, “I don’t think I can. I’m saved by the sickness. Oh, that was quick. My stomach is doing flips and there is a parasprite in my brain. I volunteered for this to help all ponies but now I feel guilty because I can only think of helping one pony. Please don’t let her feathers fall. My special somepony. Is that unethical? I think I’m going to need to use the bucket sooner than I thought. Please look away princess, you shouldn’t see this. Please your Luna don’t look it’s not princessly.” Luna watched Grey vomit and collapse on the straw. Then she created a new notebook and started writing. When he was fully unconscious Princess Luna settled a rich thick blanket over Grey. /]*[\ Grey galloped as hard as he could. He was far behind the herd and they were disappearing over the horizon. “Please wait for me!” He yelled. The sky was gone, the ground was gone, and he ran. He tried to get back to his rock, but it and the Everfree palace moved away from him. Then the palace and the forest exploded into their component parts. There was nothing under his hooves. He ran for what felt like days. Abruptly, Grey’s body jerked, and his eyes opened wide. Through a small pinpoint of awareness, he realized that he was in a hospital. Walls, ceiling, bedding, white. A window of blue sky and a tan spire. Canterlot castle loomed in the window. He could make out ponies in white coats with goggles and masks staring down at him. “No!” Grey yelled at nothing. “It’s wrong, it--is--wrong. This weakness disgusts me. Give me back my control. Give me back my strength!” A black and white striped pony spoke to him. “You must tell us what you feel. It is important so we may help you heal. The disease will not allow you to conceal. Getting well must have great appeal.” “Why are you singing at me without singing? Why am I in jail? I’m sorry! You see, I wanted to show her such t-t-tenderness. Not for you Grey, not for you! Stupid pony, bad pony, how dare you dream how dare you hope. To dream in pink and cream? What’s wrong with you!?” A pastel rainbow flowed and touched Grey’s cheek. For a slight moment he felt love and empathy. The pastel rainbow mane belonged to the matriarchal monarch of Equestria. The touch made Grey think of a word he never fully understood. Mother. “I’m sorry I never knew one! Did you have one? Everypony has a mom, except one. Me.” Grey yelled at Princess Celestia’s mane, “Get that manure flavoured drink away from me. Bring me cider!” /]*[\ Grey opened his eyes again. This time he was back in the Everfree Forest palace. Luna was looking down at him. “Tell me everything you feel.” “My stomach is empty and hungry. I must stand up.” “You must stay down until you are strong enough. Do you understand this?” “Yes, I understand perfectly. But I think it’s pony instincts. I am an earth pony, I am strong.” “A butterfly could knock you over.” “I know. I feel I must not appear vulnerable in case there are predators in the vicinity.” Grey struggled to get to his feet. Luna surrounded him with her magic and kept him from falling over. “There is a gift basket of fruit from Canterlot for you on the counter over there. You haven’t eaten in days. Help yourself.” Grey walked stiff legged to the basket. He tried to eat the fruit with manners mostly because Luna was watching him, but he ended up devouring half the basket. He turned his flank towards Luna to hide his ravenous appetite and bad manners while trying to figure out who in Canterlot would send him a gift basket. * “Princess, I apologise if I implied hiding from the disease was cowardly. You self- quarantined. I saw it in my dream. It was the only way you and Princess Celestia could have survived the first version of the disease? Your survival must have been the most important thing, right? There wouldn’t have been an Equestria without your secret hiding. I also saw drought and famine. All the other Alicorns died, didn’t they? I never knew that. Probably not public knowledge. I’m sorry we don’t say thank you enough during the Spring Sunrise Festival. It has become another excuse to party instead of thanking you for your sacrifice and creating Equestria. Discord’s disease was created to eliminate the Alicorns but has changed over the centuries now, it only affects us. Not that it means anything, but that’s fine by me.” Luna watched Grey pick through the remnants of the fruit basket then wrote in her ever-growing notebook. Patient has appropriate appetite after fasting for 72 hours. Very weak, exhausted, drained mentally physically. Displaying melancholy sentiments and a certain inexplicable insight. Luna closed the book and flipped it over and opened it again. Crisis. Survival. Advancement. My subject has stated, with words to the effect, that only the victory matters. Has he advanced to this level already? This was not a challenge to develop growth, but subject has advanced unexpectedly. Overjoyed. Did he deduce that sister and I concealed ourselves from Discord, or assume? As stated earlier, I tried to follow his fever nightmare, as an observer only, but when we both saw that Alicorn skull, I had to turn back, but not him, for he did not know what was waiting for him. How could he see an image from my memory when I entered his fever dream? Must assess own fatigue before drawing conclusions. I am stimulated and rejuvenated by this game. The subject, my subject, my loyal subject? Urge to see past barricades I have placed in game is great. Must maintain fairness/objectivity. This surprise is wonderful. Sister is pleased with our work. Also, if I could tear down the walls of this game, and etiquette, and life, I would give him such a hug! Luna flipped the pages of the book until she was halfway through it. She tore it in half down the spine and used her magic to create two back covers for the two separate books. The second book she titled ‘Fox & Hound Game’ and sent it to her personal library. Grey had finished off the fruit in the basket, “Sorry Princess, in my fever dreams did I say or do anything inappropriate?” “I shall answer by saying that I know you a little more now and all is well.” Grey noticed the stainless-steel pail gleaming in the corner. “Princess you shouldn’t have cleaned that yourself.” “You still know nothing of Alicorns. I simply made every molecule of the contents of the vessel appear someplace else. Be careful where you step near your latrine.” Luna smiled at Grey. “I’m afraid we don’t have much time for you to recuperate. The disease has reached Ponyville. You are going to help there, and I am going to assist in Cloudsdale. /]*[\ The residents of Ponyville had been told in advance to gather the ingredients for the medicine. The ponies were ordered to go to the town hall as soon as they felt any symptoms. There was a concern that ponies would feel shame with the Discharge of Discord and hide from medical assistance. Nopony laughed when it happened, and the infected individual was treated with respect and helped immediately. The Pegasus from the first town arrived to help. Her name was Sabina which means tender love and transference in the old language. Grey had put a table and two chairs from the café in front of the town hall, now the Ponyville hospital. Sabina and Grey sat there on a much-needed break. Sabina leaned back in her chair, “This is such a lovely town.” “It’s so quiet with all the ponies sick. I never thought there was a town smaller than Ponyville until I saw your village. Has Luna’s medicine made any difference?” Grey asked. “Oh yes, their temperature spike is less searing, and they don’t have such intense hallucinations. I hear you had quite the fever dream.” “What! There is no way you could have known that.” “I’m part of the medical community; it’s a community and a small community at that. We share as much information as we can. See my cutie mark, it's an old medical symbol I’m going to be a therapist that helps ponies by talking with them about their problems.” Ψ “Talk therapy, good luck with that. If I told you how I was treated growing up here, you wouldn’t believe me anyway. So, what would be the point?” Sabina sipped her cold tea, “What would be the point of not believing you? If I had the opportunity to listen to you. I would want to hear everything. Feelings you hoof stomp down your throat will come back up like Discord’s Discharge to haunt you. This passive-aggressive guard pony shtick will fade away and you will develop new coping skills for when times become difficult again. When you get to the root of your history, it will eliminate your need to self-medicate. And you will no longer need to avoid your past and your true self. And I’m sure the Princesses have mentioned that you will be a mentor to future generations of guard ponies. Did I miss anything?” “I don’t self-medicate. As far as I know. They kicked me. While I slept. When I was a little colt. I will not forgive them for that.” “We don’t say forgive in my new profession. It’s a release. You release them from your thoughts. I’m going to need some context. Ponyville is known as Equestria’s friendliest place.” “Not for me. I was hated, ignored, and rejected; they never told me why.” Grey snorted with his forelegs crossed, “What did you mean; ‘I had quite the fever dream’?” “The dreams are just chaos. Background static as our minds try to make order. What does your cutie mark mean?” “It’s a broom. I was the street sweeper here until Luna saved me.” “Saved you from this beautiful town?” “It’s complicated.” “You can talk to me, it’s what I do. Who knows, you may never see me again.” Grey snorted again, “Why does everypony want to get in my head? I assure you, there’s nothing in it anyway.” “Ponies are curious. You put up barriers and we want to see why.” “I’m nothing. I’ll probably die in some unnamed battle. Sorry for being gloomy, I’m tired.” “You’re exhausted. You stood guard last night for me while I slept, now you need sleep.” “That’s funny; when I lived here my friends said all I did was sleep.” “Why don’t you go home and sleep and I can keep an eye on things for a while? Why did you flinch when I said ‘home’?” Grey deflected, “I hear something. I think we have our first riser.” They went back inside the hall to see Big Macintosh struggled to stand. He said, “Ma clan.” “Whoa there, big fella.” Sabina placed her foreleg across his chest and turned to Grey. “Oh, he’s a handsome fellow.” “Yeah, yeah.” Grey turned to Big Mac and commanded, “Granny Smith says sit!” Big Mac sat down hard on the cot and it sagged in the middle. “Uh-oh, I think I’m being summoned.” Grey said looking around. The view of the inside of the town hall was slowly replaced with bright white and bright sky blue. Grey was standing on the cloud tops of Cloudsdale. White open towers of clouds. There were rows of cloud beds with Pegasus on each of them. Grey was reminded of the clouds passing over the Everfree forest. Luna sat next to one cloud on a cloud. There was a green mound at the head of the bed where Rainbow Dash slept, mouth open, exhaling a snore with each breath. Princess Luna had a red handkerchief tied around her forehead that seemed to control her mane, “Please explain this to me.” “That’s Tank. From what I hear, he’s Rainbow Dash’s loyal pet.” Tank looked at Grey then returned his gaze to Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash, the Wonder Bolt prodigy, has a tortoise as a pet? Tank refuses to eat. He is a very naughty tortoise.” Luna smiled at Tank. “I have threatened him with being the main ingredient in tortoise soup, but he remains defiant.” Grey spoke to him. “Tank, Dashie will be very weak when she wakes up. She will need your strength. You need to eat to be strong. Please eat something, for Dashie.” Tank picked up a piece of broccoli from the bowl next to the cloud bed and chewed it. “Can you explain why he has a propeller on his shell with a battery of my sister’s magic in it? “No, I can’t. I’m sorry, I don’t know anything about that kind of stuff.” “Thank you Grey. That will be all.” Luna made eye contact with him and smiled. Grey’s eyes went big even before whatever was under his hooves disappeared. “Lunaaaaa!” Everything went grey and wet like a thick fog. Then Grey emerged from the bottom of Cloudsdale. He took the time to enjoy the view. The bottom of Cloudsdale was not as bright white as the top and was moving away from him with increasing speed. The wind from below was increasing. Then he appeared in front of the Ponyville town hall. Grey yelled at the sky. “You’ll notice I didn’t swear.” He sighed, “Wide awake now. Back to work.” I’m sure you just did that to see my face when I fell. Kinda proud of the way I handled that. Gonna yell at some Ponyville ponies now. The scene inside the town hall was lively. There was movement on almost every bed. And they were afraid in a way Grey had never seen before. The townsponies had their eyes wide open as they struggled to stand and tried to run. Sabina used her wings to propel her to ponies that were just about to fall off their bed. She said, “So glad you returned, disappearing guard pony. Reeealy need some help right about now.” Grey ran from bed to bed pushing ponies back down. Sabina yelled advice, “Don’t be so rough. Say thank you instead of sorry.” Grey realised that he was stronger than anypony in the hall. They were coming off a three day fast and he was fully recovered. Grey developed a technique of picking up a pony, folding their legs one at a time underneath them and setting said pony back on the bed. When that pony was awake enough to figure out how to untangle their leg and strong enough to do it, they were given one more glass of water before being allowed to leave the sick house. Sabina was caught in a loop of arguments with Rarity. Rarity made countless demands along the line of being escorted back home. While Sabina agreed with everything, Rarity would pull back the covers and insist that stallion fashion models carry her on a silk palanquin. Purple magic flashed in the corner. Grey groaned, “Wanna trade?” Sabina answered, “No thank you. I’m a huge Rarity fan. Go handle it, big boy.” Twilight Sparkle was tangled in her bed covers. Spike, her personal assistant slash baby dragon, cowered behind a nightstand. “Spike?” Grey asked. “Her self-levitation spells aren’t working, and she’s afraid of something.” Grey took a step forward. Twilight inhaled as her eyes opened full. Grey took another step and she screamed, like a siren, gaining intensity, volume, and pitch. Grey took a step back. “Spike?” “Dude, Twilight had some really bad dreams. I don’t think she took all of the medicine cus she’s stubborn that way. She’s got some issues that she won’t talk about. Twilight didn’t mean to burn me. She was trying to defend herself in her dream.” Grey yelled, “Sabina. I need backup.” He didn’t get an answer. Grey stepped back until Twilight’s panic lessened. What if Twilight Sparkle, the hero of Equestria, can see the real me and it’s terrifying? Twilight remained still in her swathe of bedsheets. She kept her eyes locked on Grey. He couldn’t think of an answer to her issue, so Grey spoke words he thought she would like. “Friendship. Books. Library books. Thank you for this lesson in friendship.” Grey backed away. He watched Twilight Sparkle catatonic on her bed. Grey told Spike to make sure she drank water before she left. Spike said, “Thank you, doctor.” Grey rolled his eyes. This is not the day I expected. By sunset there were only a few bedridden patients left. Applejack watched intently as Grey showed her his technique. “Lift them up. Fold their legs underneath, one, two, three and four. Set them down on their folded legs. When they’re awake enough, and strong enough, they figure it out.” The pony Grey was demonstrating with seemed fascinated by the loss of his legs. He stuck his muzzle under every part of his body trying to find them. He was just as captivated when he was surrounded with magical purple light and ascended once more. The pony’s legs dropped down and moved automatically, as if the pony was swimming in air. “That is not how to treat somepony who is unwell.” Twilight Sparkle walked towards them. Her mane was a twisted frizzled mess of indigo with sprouts of pink and purple. She had a sheet wrapped around her tail and one leg. Spike trailed behind trying to unknot the sheet from Twilight. “You do not hog-tie the sick to expedite your laziness. The ill do not deserve to have their legs bound so you can sleep. And telling Spike that you are a doctor. Shame on you. You, you fraudster.” Applejack told Grey that she would talk to Twilight. Grey walked past Sabina who was playing peek a boo with a sheet with some foals on a bed. “Sabina, I’m going on a pee break and I won’t be coming back. Once again I’ve had enough of this jerk water town.” /]*[\ A month later the Bat ponies with Luna’s chariot arrived in front of the palace. Luna exited the palace and walked down the stairs as Grey held open the chariot door. He took his place at the back and held on for dear life. Not so bad this time. I wonder if I’m getting used to it. The usual landing in Ponyville. Grey held the door for Luna and followed beside and slightly behind her. A guard pony looks for motion directed at his/her charge; Grey did not expect to be the subject of an attack. It startled him when Rose Hips put a wreath of flowers around his neck and hugged him. Luna said. “Get used to it guard pony, this is why we are here.” Luna and Grey walked through the crowd of ponies to the town stage. Luna met with Ponyville’s Mayor and the town dignitaries and planned their speeches and looked at Grey. Sabina and Zecora stood at the other end of the stage with similar wreaths on them. Luna walked over to Grey and said, “Are you ready?” “I know what you’re doing, and it doesn’t feel right. I read your notes. We didn’t find a cure and some ponies still died. Your medicine only relieved the symptoms of the fever, that’s all.” “You think this is for you? Look at them. This is for them. They are grateful for our hard work and want to express it. We gave them a valuable thing. Hope. And it’s part of your leadership training. Ready?” “No.” “Good.” The Mayor of Ponyville started the speeches with a retelling of Grey’s volunteering. The visit to Sabina’s town. How that town, Sabina and Grey had suffered more than any other pony in Equestria. Then Luna hung a gold medal around Sabina’s neck. Sabina made a small speech thanking every pony. The same for Zecora. She answered with her poetry speak. Then Grey’s turn. Grey’s hooves slid across the wood floor as Applejack pushed him from behind. Grey bowed as Luna hung the medal around his neck. He looked at the crowd from behind the podium with nothing to say. Luna whispered in his ear. “Tell a little joke.” Grey looked out into the sea of smiling faces that were indifferent to him his whole life. But they were different. The smiles were genuine and warm. It was as if they didn’t recognise Grey, and that hurt too. He fell back onto a lifetime of wounded feelings. “I heard all your fever dreams. I have blackmail material on all of Ponyville.” Silence, a pony coughed. Luna spoke to the crowd. “I told him to tell a joke. What a terrible joke. You all had very mild and quiet fever dreams. If you want to hear something funny, ask me about my guard pony’s intense fever dreams and his Discharge of Discord.” The crowd erupted in laughter. Grey’s face turned crimson. /]*[\ At the end of the day Grey took a moment to admire his gold medal before putting it in his hiding place behind a loose board under the veranda of the palace. It had a maple leaf in the centre surrounded by the words. ‘First Place. Running of the Leaves.’ The manticore walked up behind Grey making enough noise as not to startle the pony. He looked over Grey’s shoulder, “Why do creatures need things?” “That’s a good question. This was a gift, a kindness. It’s not even meant for me. If it was, a unicorn could have changed the words on it. I was given it to make them feel good, not me.” Grey sniffed. “That’s what guard ponies do. We live to serve. I think I’m starting to feel like a real guard pony. Ponyville wanted to thank me for an idea I had. Have you ever received a gift, Manticore?” “My mate gave me a great kill the other day.” Grey shuddered internally, “Oh, you have a mate, congratulations.” “How will you find a mate out here away from your herd?” “That’s not something that’s meant for me.” * (Discordantly; Discord’s Story: by CosmicUnicorn on devantART)