//------------------------------// // Ch 3: A Little Push... // Story: Border Chronicles: Book 1 Friendship in Chaos // by Sirion123 //------------------------------// Location: R-13: Farway Caelum, Cygnus, Belfiore Academy 2037 P.C.E. (Post Creator era) “Good afternoon admiral.” Trevor greeted, after he recovered from his bump into Skeleton. “What is so good about it?” Snapped a cold, raspy, dead voice belonging to Skeleton. Annoyance at being bumped into, and anger at the still not found intruder clearly heard in the remark. Trevor’s train of thought stumbled, not knowing why the CO was so angry about a small bump. “I…I have no answer to that.” Admitted Trevor, “But, sir…I’m not really sure how to…I have something unexplainable in my room” Skeleton raised a brow. “Clarify.” he clipped. “Uh…I left earlier for the galley, and when I came back something made it’s way into my wardrobe.” There’s no way he would end up there… “Student’s pulling a prank. Not worth my time.” Skeleton turned to leave. “Sir wait! Thats one of the things I thought of, at first, except… it was a creature that could talk on it’s own. It looked strange, Like the Artist took some elmint weed before he made it, like a patch work of some of the other things he made.” Skeleton froze, his feature darkening in anger, eyes flickering rapidly between emerald green and solid pupil-less white. Quickly he turned back around facing Trevor. Trevor, after seeing the pure fury on the admiral’s face, stood in fear. “Show me.” the words spoken like nails hammered into a coffin. Skeletons first sight as he entered Trevor’s room was greeted by an unconscious and hog tied dragonequus. The sight of Discord tied up by long sleeve shirts, tongue hanging out and snoring, was just a little humorous, but Skeleton’s mood at seeing it screamed murder. His eyes narrowed, anger radiated from him, almost visibly, at the confirmation of the facts. With a quick snap of his fingers, Skeleton, Trevor, and Discord were transported outside the CO’s office. “Wait here. Ensign Fields, we will talk in a moment.” Skeleton commanded, “I need to take care of…This,” he gestured toward Discord, “first.” “Aye, Aye” The simple response to the command. Trevor too stunned at the change of scenery to say, or do, much else. With that, Skeleton dragged the unconscious dragonequus into his office and slammed the door shut. The room was cold, spartan, and perfect for the temporary admiral. Nothing to mark his time here, nothing would remain of Skeleton’s task here save a ghost of a memory. The office a small room made smaller by the mahogany colored wood panels that were glue to the walls, all in an effort to belay the fact the room was entirely cut off from the world. No windows to bless the room with natural sun light, just a sickly yellow glow from the light crystal constructs. No pictures depicting long standing naval traditions, Caelum’s history, or anything to make the room seem less isolated or comfortable in anyway. There was absolutely nothing in the room beyond a simple desk, two simple wooden chairs and a few file cabinets. A perfect representation of function, reflecting Skeleton’s look on life. In one chair, the still unconscious, dragonequus laid unceremoniously about, though now untied after Skeleton whisked the makeshift ties away. Across the desk sitting in the other chair, Rust brown hair, buzzed cut, meeting the military regs, dressed in his dark navy blue service uniform, red trim outlining the collar and made it’s way down the buttoned outer shirt, the buttons securing the uniform the same dark blue. Tan dress pants, creases sew in the front and sides of the leggings, ended at his feet with mirror polished black dress shoes. Skeleton’s costume for the part he had to play, here in Farway. Soon he would waken his unwanted guest, but before Skeleton could start his interrogation, he needed to quell a bad habit. **fla-tink** **fft** An inhale of breath along with the crackle of tobacco, burning it’s cherry orange glow, remained in the amber flame for a moment before Skeleton moved the lighter away. **Tink** With a sigh, Skeleton exhaled his smoke, calming him slightly. The tobacco smoke lazily filtered it’s way across the room. A quick snap of his fingers, Skeleton used powerful magics to seal the room from any intruders. No one could enter with out his express permission, but more importantly, no one could leave. All that remained for Skeleton to do was wait for his prey to wake up. “My, my what a rude fellow,” grumbled Discord, regaining his conscience, “I’ve heard of ‘Hitting the books’ But having just gone through with it can’t say I’m,” Discord stuck his hands into the air before pulling, from nothing, “a big fan.” somewhere nearby but outside the room a long “yeah!” could be heard. “Though I must say this is quite some place chaos if the author could be trusted. Farway huh? Can’t say I expected this, but when do I expect anything I do…” Discord chuckled briefly before he caught Skeleton’s cold as death glare. Discord cleared his throat, his eyes grew to dinner plates, pupils to pinpricks. “Why are you here?” Icy and dead, Skeleton voiced his question with barely contained rage. “I decided a vacation was in order” with an audible pop, Discord changed from his dinner suit to a tacky flowered, and obnoxiously orange shirt, a straw hat adorn his head, cheap red rimmed sunglasses covering his yellow eyes, and a pina colada with a tiny pink umbrella (turned inside out) in his taloned hand, “And thought I’d visit an old friend,” Discord paused, “oh alright, colleague, for a spell.” “Do not lie to me.” The soft spoken statement carried the weight of eternity. “Well then, aren't you a spoil sport.” Pouted Discord, “Despite your less then colorful opinion of me and my antics, I didn’t come here by choice, I was sent here via happy…” Discord noticed Skeleton’s unending scowl, “or not so happy coincidence, Skelly!” “I gave you a warning of what would happen if you ever showed up in one of my realms, Accident or not, again. If I was to believe it was an accident as you so claim, why are you still here? I thought it would have behooved you to make a hasty escape and claim ignorance. That is your style is it not?” “Firstly, never get a job writing greeting cards, that was terrible. Right now some poor kitten is being sat on by a rotund woman” a snap was heard and a television showing the very action taking place before disappearing, “so horrific was that pun, if you intended it, worse if you didn’t. Fluttershy would be so angry with you. Secondly, Don’t you think I tried?” As if to prove his point, Discord snapped his paw. Skeleton felt nothing, no push, pull, or any indication that Discord made any attempt to leave Farway for Equus. It was possible that Discord only snapped his paw without attempting to leave, but Skeleton didn’t sense any deception. It appeared that the distrustful prankster was for once telling the truth. “Despite my less than thoughtful nature, I do have some semblance of self sustainability, or with out the alliteration, preservation. I know what terms you gave me. I also am aware of the transaction between you and the princesses leaving you the ruler of Equestria and lead guardian of Equus’ future. To which I find incredibly unfair. I break a few rules and get a stone prison for a thousand plus years, and you break one of the biggest and don’t even get a slap of the wrist. What makes you so different from I?” “First, unlike the princesses, I have little tolerance for your actions, I despise them. Secon—“ “What happened to you Skelly? You use to be such a jovial person. Even helped me on occasion in pranking the Matriarch, and the younger Celestia and Luna fillies. When did you become such a crabby person?” Discord interrupted. Another pop heard and a quick bright flash, Skeleton’s military uniform changed into a light blue shirt, with an adorable little cartoon crab, it’s face screwed up in anger, with the caption, “Leave me alone or I’ll pinch you!" “Secondly,” Skeleton spat, “I did not betray everything my post was suppose to protect. As to my current temperament, something happened not too dissimilar to what led to your betrayal,” Skeleton sneered, “Harmonous.” Discords eyes narrowed to slits, his normal playful nature turn to rage, his features twisted into a stone mask of hatred. “That is not my name.” Discord seethed. “That was the name you were born to was it not? Not this sick parody sitting before me,” Skeleton took another hit of his cigarette, “I won’t acknowledge someone who abandoned his duties, turned his anger on those who never deserved it and almost destroyed your origin realm because you couldn’t get what you wanted, Harmonous!” “YOU WEREN’T THERE!” Discord raged, “I was refused my request to help who I cared about. Despite my pleas, the Matriarch all but killed off her daughter, MY LOVE! All because the system couldn’t handle an existence with her forgotten daughter Aria without destroying our unstable origin. So, I had my revenge on everything the Matriarch had fashioned regardless if the ponies deserved such a thing or not. And while we’re on the subject of revenge…Again, how is it you can get away with pulling the same bits of chaos I made, but not be punished as I was? Is our dear Matriarch playing favorites? Tell me Skelly…What makes you so different from me? Why aren’t you punished for the cruel things you do, to which might I add, are often much darker then anything I could do.” Discord looked on, exasperated, “To say I’m jealous of what you can get away with, would be quite the understatement.” He finished with a slight smile. “The Difference? I have not attacked my kind as a whole. I did not place my origin in grave danger because I was angry. I target my revenge on those who would serve as examples to those whose hearts might be swayed by the sweet lies power brings. As to my acquirement of Equus…that was to help a desperate mare with an impossible choice. I do admit to breaking the spirit of the laws that govern us, but I have never broken the letter of the law, Harmonous.” “Again. That. Is. Not. My. Name! All that remains of Harmonous, is a bitter memory best left to be forgotten.” Discord sighed, his rage dissipating, being replace with regret and despair. “Look, I don’t want to be here any more then you want me here. But please, If there is anything left of my once friend in that black heart you now have, please call me Discord. The other name hurts too much. There is a lot that I have to make up for… at least being immortal gives me the time to do so.” Skeleton took another hit, before releasing his breath. Slowly bringing his unoccupied hand under his chin, Skeleton started to lose himself in thought. Damn it! And Damn him! This should have been simple. Yet, I suppose with him things never are. Falona gave him her protection after he was “reformed” preventing me from re-casing him in stone. I would have been given free reign to punish him if he had come here voluntarily, but with the simple fact his presence here was an accident her protection still applies. I understand why he acted in the manner that he did back then, if Falona did not help me fix my own mess, I do not believe I would have acted any different. still… “What am I do to with you?” Asked Skeleton aloud. “Well I’m partial to a good massage, maybe even one with a “happy ending” egg roll. But, maybe it would be more fun? No…stable, if you just sent me back to Equus.” Spoke the dragonequus, Discord’s playful nature returning along with a slight pout and puppy dog eyes. “No.” Skeleton leaned forward into his hands giving him a calculating look. “Accident or not, a punishment must be administered. Do to Falona’s declaration of protection for you…it will be a light punishment, because of the unintended infraction. There is a problem of sending you back now, regardless. It would be a great desire to see you shipped back to your world and out of my mind. Yet, what is occurring here in Belfiore Academy requires my constant attention. Even the slightest absence of myself could bring everything I have been working for, in these last three years, into an unrecoverable tailspin. I can not send you back to Equus until my task here is done.” Discord visibly deflated, along with the typical flatulent sounds, rolling of the chair onto the ground looking like a discarded balloon. From down below the office desk came the muffled. “As much fun as I think I could have here, I’d rather be back home and spend time with my friends.” Skeleton Arched a brow, then scowled. Discord returned to his regular form. “It’s true! I…I grew tired of being the bad guy. Ms. Shy, and please don’t tell her I call her that in the company of others, had a big part in my chaotic temperance. But, it’s more then that…after one of my biggest breaches of protocol, I started to grow a conscious. Then after what a certain mint green unicorn went through… I’m tired of the misery. Not the chaos, All Mother help me, not the chaos, just being the cause of misery like the Matriarch did to me.” “My Statement still holds true. Until my task is done, I will not send you anywhere, no matter how much I want to be rid of you.” “But! But…Look I’m not the type to be serious, usually I’m against it on matter of principle, but I have someplace to be. You, I, we both know I shouldn’t be here. Problems beyond what I could predict utilizing all my amazing knowledge of the random and obscure, can’t fathom what could happen. The longer I’m here the worse everything will become. It will only take, oh, I don’t know,” Discord started to roll his talon, “three…ten seconds tops to send me home.” Discord growing more desperate. “What part of No don’t you understand. As the situation stands, as I say again, is too damn fragile. For my task to be successful, it requires my constant vigilance, or it crumbles to dust. I will not allow that to happen. I already have enough stress ensuring that house Oaklandus, and Volcain settle things peacefully before the whole of Caelum turns to blood—” Skeletons whole body froze. A mostly spent cigarette fell from his lips to his lap, the emerald eyes turned to solid white. His skin bleached, sweat began pouring from his pores, rolling down his brow falling near the still burning cigarette now in Skeleton’s lap. The smell of burning cloth, filtering through the room, joining the already thick smell of tobacco smoke. Discord stared on, confused as to Skeleton’s sudden lack of movement. Not knowing what else to do, Discord just waved his hand in front of Skeleton’s eyes. Nothing. Grinning Discord pulled out a marker and began to draw all manner of stick figures on Skeleton’s face. 5 seconds later, fifteen, thirty, a minute, five, the end of the universe passed by, or at least it felt that way to Discord. “No…It can’t…” whispered Skeleton “What was that?” Discord’s eyebrow raised. Suddenly, Skeleton rose to his feet, arms coming from under the office desk in a quick fashion upturning a piece of the basic decor found in the room. His face contorted in rage, the ink from the marker burning off, the burnt out cigarette obliterated, as Skeleton’s form began to glow an intense white. “DAMN YOU AND YOUR THRICE ACCURSED AND RETCHED PRINCESSES. DAMN ALL OF EQUUS, AND MOST OF ALL DAMN YOU FALONA! EVERYTHING I’VE BEEN WORKING FOR LAYS IN RUINS!” bellowed Skeleton. Discord shrank back in fear, never seeing any one in Skeleton’s position just lose themselves to pure anger like that. Forgetting for a moment he was trapped in this room, with what very well might be his demise, Discord tried to magic himself out of the room, only to fail. “I HAD EVERYTHING IN ORDER. NOW? CAELUM LIES IN RUINS, FARWAY ALL BUT DESTROYED, AND WHAT EVER ACTIONS AND CHOICES THAT LED TO THAT OUTCOME I CAN’T SEE. I’M BLIND…AND MY ONLY MEANS OF SALVAGING THIS ENDS WITH THAT KID BEING A MARTRE!” Discord didn’t move. Yet, his very nature, ruled by a twisted curiosity had to ask. “Why, What ever do you mean?” squeaked a very timid Discord. “This academy’s house nobility system is bringing all of Caelum to a critical point. Within three months the two biggest houses will draw blood. I had time to settle the animosity between Oaklandus and Volcain before the beginning of next spring. But now I do not have that option, because YOU showed up. If a single drop of blood is spilled, Caelum falls to civil war, and will not be able to help Terra when they need the help most. Farway will spend millenniums in bloodshed. I had everything on the board, little to no risk to life, now? …if I use that kid to negotiate a peace between the two houses, he will be killed. I can not allow that to happen either, he has a bigger destiny beyond Caelum. What I need is time. Time to figure this out, so sort out all this chaos that—” Skeleton paused, his anger being replaced with a clever smirk as a desperate idea formed, “Then again…That might be my answer.” Discord saw the knowing smile on Skeleton’s face. The same kind of smile that was semi-permanent on Discord, usually plastered on his face. Being on the receiving end, the dragonequus found it disconcerting, “If you can help me delay the confrontation of the two houses. I might be able to salvage this. There will be rules to follow,” Skeleton’s eyes narrowed, “which will be adhered to at all times. But for intents and purposes you have free reign to do what ever you wish against Houses Oaklandus and Volcain. None other houses can be involved, and no blood can be spilt.” Discord’s jaw fell straight to the ground with an audible thud. He couldn’t believe it. Skeleton who hated his guts, was giving the spirit of chaos carte blanche. The offer was sweet, too sweet. Is Skeleton trying to play me? “I smell a trap.” Discord sniffed, then out of the ceiling fell a bear trap, “SEE! I knew it! You’re trying to play me.” “I may be a cruel man, but I am a fair man. I do not play games, set up my fellow man for failure. I just watch, and hand them the rope to hang themselves with. Only a fool would trust you, or myself. Your hesitation reasonable, for once. I am desperate, I need a way to save that kid, and necessity dictates action. Having you play matchmaker with the two houses helps my cause. Trevor Fields is by far the most important person in all of Farway and needs to be saved no matter what.” “The very same colt that helped me with the history of Farway? Again, Fantastic chaos. Why don’t you have me protect him from his terrible fate?” “It won’t work. Thanks to your already brief time here corruption gave the kid active magic based on harmony. If you try to help him with your chaos magic, it will only make things worse. To help him, I need harmony magic.” “hmm, If my very orderly chaos won’t be of any help. Mayhaps we might need an Element of Harmony…or six?” “Absolutely not! I will not risk convergence between Farway and Equus, much less your origin realm. That is reckless border lining with stupidity, even for you.” “Well I can assure you I can protect Equus just as well as the royals. After all, I’ve done it before, and for longer! I can make certain that Equus’ origin will remain safe.” “That would mean trusting you. Making me the greatest fool in existence.” “Oh Skelly, if I didn’t know better I’d accuse you of assassinating my good character.” With a pop two doll like figures appeared on the still overturned desk, both a slight parody of Skeleton and Discord. Upon the miniature of Discord hung a sign with the words “Good Character” held by some twine resting slightly above his chest. The doll of Skeleton whipped out a gun and with a small pop, shot the Discord figurine. With an overdramatic show of bad acting the doll form of the dragonequus laid itself across the desk. Pulling out a daisy, the small form crossed his arms muttered a soft *hurk-Bleh* and stuck out it’s tongue, the daisy standing tall in it’s tiny mismatched hands. “I am not amused.” “That’s because you don’t get my jokes. The elements will help protect the colt, but only if you bring them here. I’ll help, because I’d rather not have the kid’s death on my hands if I can help it. Not after I discovered how much a friendship means to me after forgetting about such a thing for so long. If you’re so worried about the fallout from this, just ask the Matriarch. I would…But I’m still not on speaking terms with her.” Skeleton didn’t say a word, with a soft sigh, he just closed his eyes. Slowing his breathing, Skeleton once again brought himself into the metaphysical. One of the gifts of Skeleton’s position was foresight, though often the gift was all but useless. Too many variables, too many paths that life could go down. It wasn’t a gift to predict the future, only a tool to help guide actions. Skeleton often called what the foresight did seeing the “board”. Feeling that a board game was the best analogy for what his job really entailed. Every major disaster or tragedy nothing more then a choke point on the board, and all paths ended at one point, a happy utopia. How long it took to get to the end, or how much collateral damage was done, was, usually, at Skeleton’s sole discretion. Which made his blindness of the future all the more unsettling, like now, only gleaming the black of closed eyes. Why am I being blocked? Does fate wish me to be a piece on the board? It doesn’t make any sense. She gave me this forsaken mission. So what would be the point of her blinding me? Something…is wrong…But what is it? “I suppose it would further delay the inevitable, if Falona approves the transfer. At minimum I will inform the royals of their grave mistake, and have the youngest sent here to help fix this mess.” Skeleton pinched the bridge of his nose, “I have to talk to the student sitting outside the office, the very same one you appeared before. This is to be a private conversation. As such, you will make yourself scarce. Change your form as well, the last thing I need is these fools thinking your some Artist made demon. We will talk later. Do not worry about when. I will find you when the time comes.” With a quick pop Discord’s form turned into a skinny, and very thin man. His height seeming taller do to the matchstick thin arms and legs. His narrow chest looked higher than a normal humans, his legs longer helping to accentuate the odd look. Discord’s face was sharp with its features, straight angles, showing his cheek bones, and gaunt. A pointed chin, and turned down nose, giving him the look of a hawk. Dark brown hair spiked in all directions, white well trimmed sideburns near his ears. The only features that would unfailingly mark him as discord were the snaggled tooth grin, white goatee, and lastly the eyes. A golden yellow iris in one eye, a blood red in the other. Slightly sunken eyes with dark rings underneath giving the now human dragonequus a little evil to his look. For any living soul, the eyes would have sent shivers down the spine, but for Skeleton they were seen as superfluous. Discord’s change of form was completed with a new set of clothes. Now dressed in a dark brown leather jacket, complete with matching stetson. Grey/green slacks with a whip attached to the waist, and a simple tan collared shirt to complete the ensemble, Reminding Skeleton of a particular movie character. Quicker then humanly possible Discord jumped to his feet and proclaimed, “If that is to be the case, I shall explore the academy and face all it’s dangers!” with quick feet Discord sprinted to the door, but stopped just as suddenly as he started, “But, before I go…I have a request…”