//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: A Meeting Of The Minds // Story: Strings // by naturalbornderpy //------------------------------// CHAPTER SIX: A MEETING OF THE MINDS   1   Discord first grew nervous and then interested as he witnessed three highly esteemed ponies rush him by. All three wore different garments of dress yet all contained eyes that told him something quite large was amiss. Something bad.                  With the snap of his fingers, Discord caused the last of the three to freeze in place.                  “And just where are you running off to?” he asked playfully, as the other two ponies first took notice of their stalled friend before leaving him behind. “If there were a sale on yogurt I would have been the first to know.”                  “Well, you see… I… uh…” The pony’s eyes whirled around in fright as he tried to decide what the less terrifying view was: the floor, or Discord’s unexpectedly invested expression. “It’s the Princess, you understand... she—”                  “Celestia?”                  “Yes. And she’s called a meeting. An urgent one. She says—”                  “Right now?”                  “Yes, right now. She says—”                  “That troubles a’ brewing?”                  “No, actually. Just that she wants a meeting, and right away.”                  Since being stopped the pony frozen in place had calmed down a tad. Now he merely regarded Discord with a curious look. When Discord said nothing for a moment, he asked, “Can I go now?”                  Discord gave his head a shake and presented a smile. “Oh, right. I had forgotten all about you.” He snapped his fingers, releasing the pony. “Go on. Trot away to your meeting.”                  The pony managed a few steps before turning back. “Are… aren’t you coming? I’m sure Celestia wants everyone there.”                  Discord brought a hand to his chin to scratch his slim beard. “I’m sure she does. And we would hate to disappoint her. I’ll be there momentarily.”                  Taking no time, the pony galloped off, nearly crashing into a wall as he rounded a corner. For a few seconds more Discord stood where he had been, contemplating exactly what it could all mean. It could only be another false alarm, he warned himself, or simply some dignitary making some surprise visit, rousing both Celestia and Luna to act accordingly. Yet Discord did not think that was the case. No. Not this time.   2   With the sharp snap of his eagle fingers Discord teleported into the meeting room. He had made it roughly three seconds before the pony from before struck the doorframe as he hurried to enter. “Hello again!” Discord said pleasantly. The pony said nothing in return; just lowered his head to huff in some air. While he watched his out of shape friend, Discord also counted the heads of other guests. Seven… eight… nine… Discord’s mismatched eyes grew wide. Eleven… TWELVE?                  Could this be it? he contemplated. Could it all have come so soon?                  Discord quickly took his seat and tried to keep his giddiness at bay. Being close to seven feet tall and appearing forever mismatched, it was a hard chore to accomplish.                  When the noise in the room had quieted to a dull murmur, everyone found their seats and Celestia finally entered the room. Trailing behind her she held two scrolls—both already dog-eared from heavy use. Her face, Discord mused, was looking damn near similar.                  Princess Celestia was worn.                  “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” she said, while finding her usual place behind her podium, “but you all know I wouldn’t have called you here if it wasn’t—” As she spoke she glimpsed each member in turn—her way of trying to equalize the room, he surmised. When she got to Discord she paused only briefly, almost as if amazed to see him there at all. Even though they were only eight feet from one another, Discord waved back playfully. It was a wave that was not returned. “—for the most dire of circumstances,” Celestia finished. “Sister Luna?”                  On his left, Luna stood and placed one of the scrolls brought in onto the communal board. As like most items of interest brought to their meetings, Discord was unfazed to find it was just another map once revealed.                  Discord sank a bit in his chair, preparing himself for the onslaught of speculation and hearsay that was surely to follow. It could go all night, he told himself gloomily.                  “This is a scarcely detailed map of the mountain regions just south of the Frozen North. As you can plainly tell, mountains and hills and small paths are what mostly exist here.” She held up a hoof to a small brown splotch near the center of the poster. “Except for this. This is a tavern that has done business in those hills for close to forty years. Travelers, miners, and adventurous ponies were the type to frequent it. Although the name of the establishment still remains a mystery to us—my sister and I had never paid a visit to the place—the fact remains that this tavern is now no more.”                  Luna paused for emphasis, then took a breath to continue.                  “We—”                  “I blame location,” Discord blurted out, both hands crossed over his chest. “Who the hell wants a drink in the middle of some snow? I mean—”                  “Discord,” Luna warned, “this is hardly the time for your mockery. The reason this place is no more is not merely due to the petty absence of coin. Two days ago it was burnt to the ground.                  “With twenty-two souls inside.”                  A hush fell over the room. A few ponies turned to their nearest neighbor but said nothing between them. Discord, meanwhile, leaned forward with rapt attention. How could he have not seen it before? he asked himself shrilly. How in Equestria could he have MISSED IT? It’s on a giant MAP for Celestia’s sake! Now that Discord’s full attention came to focus, he finally noted each hill and each rock that had been hastily painted upon the map, along with the paths. Occasionally on some of his weekly visits, when his miserable houseguest proved a little too boring for company, Discord would take a leisurely stroll along the mountain’s paths, purely to walk and to think. But this tavern… had he seen it before? That he could not remember for certain. Although it mattered little.                  It was then that Discord finally realized Celestia was talking again.                  “… the support beams gave in and the roof must have caved soon after. And now one horrific aftermath is all that remains, along with many unanswered questions. Such as: How did no one make it out? And why did it look as if no one tried to, either?”                  And with those sweet words Discord knew without a shadow of a doubt just who had caused such a scene, and what pleased him most was that not a single pony had been around to mention his name… or even the vaguest of descriptions.                  Well if that was the case…                  “Well I don’t see what all the doom and gloom is about Celestia,” Discord said loudly, rising from his seat. “A bunch of drunken ponies set fire to a place and then stay inside to stay warm. I would say it was either an accident or the result of ridiculous gross negligence.” Discord stretched out his long back, emitting a series of sharp pops and cracks. “And how in Equestria could this map tell you all of that? I think you’ve worried yourself so much you’ve created a story before the facts!”                  Celestia regarded him coldly. Any hint of humor she might have had earlier obviously evaporated once she’d entered the room. “Discord, I do hope you are taking this as seriously as I. I, for one, do not find anything humorous about the deaths of twenty-two of my subjects, especially under such mysterious circumstances. And since you make mention of our complete lack of witnesses, we do in fact have one. A pegasus of the Royal Guard—stationed along the road near the bar. He told us what he could and helped us greatly.”                  Discord asked, “Is he still here? I’d love to speak with him.” And a great and many more things, as well.                  “Sadly for you he has been returned to his post. He appeared rather shook up and thought the best course would be to continue on the job. But he told us all he saw before he left.”                  “And what was that? That a group of dullards drank themselves into such a state that the sound of fire-juggling sounded neat?”                  Celestia shot him another icy glare and the literal feeling of an invisible noose tightened around his neck. “If I should need to warn you a third time Discord, I will remove you from the room. As I’ve said before, this is not a laughing matter.” Celestia’s horn went back to its neutral color and Discord was released from the hold. Like a small filly he stomped his way back to his chair.                  Celestia spoke to the rest of the room again. “As our witness testified, before the tavern erupted into flames only a single pony left the tavern. He, or she, or it, was wearing a black cloak that concealed their face and most of their body, but they could not have been much larger than any normal adult stallion or mare. Once they were well away from the scene, I was told the fire appeared quickly thereafter.”                  Discord raised his paw. When it went unnoticed, he waved it around timidly.                  Celestia sighed. “Don’t make me regret this. Discord, your thoughts?”                  “An arsonist?”                  The white alicorn chewed on the suggestion. “That’s the most productive thing you’ve said all day, Discord, but sadly I doubt such is the answer. As our witness could attest when he himself tried to open the doors to the already burning bar—the doors were locked tight from the inside. When that failed, he went to the windows to try and break one open. He said what he saw there stopped him cold. A dozen or more ponies crowded the main room—some already unconscious or dead on the floor; others fighting with others; others seeming to casually sit and wait for the flames to come reach them. He told that even the bartender—a pony that he knew—merely stood behind his bar, as if carefully watching over everything.” She turned to Discord. “Does this sound like simple arson to you?”                  Discord gulped down his large throat. “Well, when you put it like that…”                  Regarding the rest of the room, Celestia continued on more forcefully. “I will not sugarcoat things here because each of you deserve better than that from me. I might leap at shadows from time and again, but that is my right as ruler. If I snuff out every problem even before it becomes one then that’s one less problem to worry about. I’ve lived over a thousand years in this world and I’ve made mistakes aplenty. I will not let this one become something else to add to my memoirs.” She pointed to the map. “What we’re dealing with here is a being of immense power and villainy—a few terms that only a select few can lay claim to, anymore. After this meeting ends, each of you will go back to your respective areas and debrief whoever needs to be debriefed. I want to stop this thing before it spreads.” Celestia laid both hooves on the table in emphasis. “And let me make this one-hundred percent clear to all of you…                  “Something malevolent has returned.”                  3   Forty-minutes following this stark statement, Discord and Luna found themselves standing stock still in Celestia’s quarters, watching the panicked alicorn steadily march from one wall to the other. Everything she had heard and that had been said at the meeting had done little to quell her fervent mind. So, after putting a permanent halt to the discussion, she invited Discord and Luna to attend a private meeting.                  Celestia ground to a halt. “The last cloaked enemy of Equestria, as I’m sure you’ll both remember, was Tirek.”                  She addressed each as she spoke, but Discord couldn’t help feel that her look might have lingered a tad longer on him. He raised an eyebrow in return, daring her to leap at something.                  “He started off small and weak,” she continued, “before becoming nearly a giant with horrific power. What is it we know of Tirek now, sister?”                  “The villain known as Tirek is still locked away inside Tartarus, under heavy guard.” Luna spoke formally, and in clipped notes. Even since returning from the moon over a decade ago, her speech pattern still had yet to be acclimated. “We received a letter just minutes ago about his continued state… and they say he’s still shackled tight and under watch. And I would not believe the guards to lie about such things.”                  “Nor would I, Luna. I only mention Tirek to try and cover each and every base. But even Tirek was not one to kill without provocation. Whoever it is we’re dealing with here seems to have no problem with it.” Celestia turned to walk to her large bay window. Outside, the sun was sinking and ushering in a tranquil view of rich purples and reds. She took it in for a moment before speaking. “I also don’t believe any Changelings were apart of this, either. First, the distance between their home and the mountains area seems far too great. Secondly, what good would a pile of dead ponies do for a race that feeds off love? It doesn’t make sense. And sadly…” She turned to face them again. “…that’s what’s causing me the most worry.”                  “I don’t follow you, Celestia,” Discord piped in, after remaining obediently silent as long as he could. “What’s all this talk about sense now?”                  “It’s that it doesn’t make any, Discord. I know it might be hard for a creature of chaos to understand, but each of our sizeable enemies from before had a purpose to their madness. Whether it be from simple want of the land or nourishment for their kind, each of our enemy has had purpose. And that’s what I find so troubling.”                  Discord coughed aggressively into a hand while pointing the other at Luna. “Aren’t you forgetting someone, dear Princess? Perhaps a little ol’ someone named Nightmare Moon?”                  At that remark Luna pursed her lips while Celestia balked.                  “Don’t you dare insinuate such things, Discord!” Celestia exclaimed. “Not only would my sister never be apart of such a horrific act, but such a disappearance of a monarch would go noticed quite severely in this land. As far as I’m concerned, Nightmare Moon is dead and is never coming back.”                  Discord held up both hands with a wide-eyed expression. “Sorry Celestia, but as you’ve plainly said, I’m just trying to cover all the bases. As I recall, Nightmare Moon was kind of a big deal in her time.” He regarded Luna. “No offence.”                  Luna closed her eyes for a second to compose herself. “Yes, for a time, long, long ago I was the being known as Nightmare Moon; but that being only contended herself with the goal of total darkness in all of Equestria, and not the innocent deaths of ponies. Which is why I will not even point a hoof at you, Discord, for such rampant destruction, I believe, is even beyond you.”                 Discord rolled his eyes. “Oh, thanks for the level of confidence, Princess, but I think even you would know I’d rather have my ponies covered in chocolate milk or banana peels, not fire. And how would I ever get all the way to the mountains and back, without a single pony taking notice?”                  Again Celestia had begun silently pacing as the pair spoke. Now she stopped in front of them. “I did not call you both here to lay blame. Luna, I’ve known you for over a thousand years and would trust you with my life.” Luna bowed her head at the compliment. “Discord, although you haven’t been on the side of good as long as I’d like, you’ve shown you’re willing to do what’s best for Equestria. I…” Suddenly the alicorn looked parched. “…trust you, and your ability to help.”                  With those words Discord bowed as low as his thin snake-like body would allow (which was about two inches from the floor). “Why thank you, Celestia. I trust you weren’t involved either!”                  Choosing to ignore that last remark, Celestia added, “But there’s still one name that hasn’t been mentioned… mostly because I don’t want to believe it to be possible.”                  Abruptly the chamber grew quiet; outside the doors, all three could clearly hear the scuffling of hurried hooves against marble. Discord gulped thickly and prepared himself for what was to come.                  Celestia said, “Our pony of mystery could also be King Sombra.”                  Discord’s eyes narrowed and one of his brows twitched uncontrollably. Oh dear. THIS isn’t good. It isn’t supposed to happen THIS fast, is it? IS IT?                  “King Somber, you say?” Discord lamented. “Sounds like one gloomy pony.”                  “King Sombra,” Celestia repeated.                  “King Sombrero?”                  “Sombra!” she cried. “He was once the despicable ruler of the Crystal Empire before Luna and I put a stop to him. Except when he knew he was defeated, he cast a curse onto his kingdom that caused it to disappear for a millennium. A few years ago that Empire returned, along with Sombra. And it was only because of Twilight and her friends that he was defeated again.”                  “So he’s lost twice now and he still calls himself King?”                  “No more jokes, Discord.”                  The look in Celestia’s eyes told him enough. He shut his trap to listen a moment… and to contemplate.                  “Other enemies of Equestria—Tirek, Chrysalis, Nightmare Moon, and yourself—we’ve been able to either lock them away or reform them if possible. Since we could not take that same chance with Sombra, he was destroyed most forcefully.”                  “You mean something worse than stone?” Discord asked, already knowing the answer.                  “Yes. He was engulfed in a powerful white light before shattering into a thousand pieces.”                  “And so now this King—who’s now more like a jigsaw puzzle—is somehow your diabolical pony? I don’t even know if I could live through something like that!”                  Celestia lowered her head to ponder. “I will give that it is still a wild notion, but not one I’m yet ready to rule out. Sombra, while he was still in control of the Crystal Empire, wanted nothing more than to rule, whether that meant slaughtering hundreds in his path. Truly, for the first time in centuries, I honestly hope we might be dealing with something entirely new.”                  4   The brisk cold created goose-bumps along Discord’s bare body, so he summoned a jacket to keep him warm. When the secondary meeting had been disbanded—and no final answer come to—Discord went to his solar and then quickly snapped his fingers to the site of all his troubles.                  A few ponies worked amongst the burnt ruble, pulling out debris and bodies alike. Discord remained encased in the wooded area up a hill, using a pair of binoculars to better his vision. Leaning against a tree he surveyed the blackened and charred area for quite some time, and truly didn’t know if he was bothered by it or not. Time, he believed, had a way of changing most anyone’s way of viewing life.                  The only question that remained now in that draconequus’ head was just where Sombra would go next. Although Discord always had his guesses.