//------------------------------// // The Cycle // Story: The Secret Side Of Discord // by Lemon Pegasus //------------------------------// Opening the door with his left arm, Starswirl held in his right arm, Discord slowly walked in to his new home. Unbelievable, this was a pretty cool gig! The house was split into four sectors and two floors. Front left, a living area with large sofa, front right was a bedroom. Back left was a kitchen and dining room, back right was a bathroom. The upper floor had a balcony looking down on the living room, as well as another bedroom, an extra bathroom, and an extra room for storage or office work. Discord stopped trying to keep hold of Starswirl, the foal was thrashing about in excitement, desperate to explore! Discord put the pony down, and he immediately sprinted to examine the place, being amazed at all the things you'd find in a normal house, yet the excitement of a new one seemed to be taking control of him. Discord closed the door behind him, still in awe at this place. He had literally just been given this house, just like that! Not only that, but he was in "acceptance central!" Jeez, what would this place's brochure be like? "Hey guys! Are you either a Minotaur, dragon, draconequus, gryphon, pony, phoenix or any other creature who is looking for a house free of charge? Then come on down to Hollow Shades, where your neighbor can breathe fire and everyone is somehow friendly!" Discord decided to look for Starswirl, of course it didn't take him long, just listen for the sound of a foal bouncing on a new double bed! He looked like he should be laughing, but instead he just happily bounced and grinned, mane swishing about in the air. After noticing Discord, he just looked at him for a few seconds. Then... more bouncing! Cause baby Starswirl don't give a sh*t! After leaving Starswirl to his top quality , 5 star entertainment, Discord checked through the various cupboards. There were already stocked with every day essentials like frying pans and towels, not to mention there was a garden outside with enough space for some small decorations, would surely Starswirl would love! Of course, they wasn't any food. I mean, if the house was pre-stocked with food, it would just go out of date! It was a good thing he was starting work tomorrow, tonight he didn't need anything. Neither did Starswirl, he was clearly full of energy! Speaking of Starswirl, would be able to draw here like he loved to at home? Discord looked under one of the office desks, paper and stationary stuff! He left it out on the table so Starswirl could come in the room and doodle whenever he wanted. When Starswirl wasn't drawing, he'd probably That would be a good opportunity for him to learn basic skills like speech and math, and maybe he'll learn some more advanced stuff like cookery and next level spells! So, Discord in work, Starswirl in school, the cycle would probably go: Get up, nomnom, Starswirl goes to school while Discord earns that pay check, mid-day meals, more work, pick up Starswirl, return home and mess about, meal #3, sleep and repeat! This was actually hard to believe! What are the odds of stumbling upon a perfect life by chance? Starswirl came running down the stairs, Discord turned to face him, but he quickly had to turn his head again as the small yet joy filled pony sprinted past him and leaped onto the sofa, landing upside down, rolling around before facing Discord. It was for moments like this that Discord kept the foal! He looked: adorable! Discord didn't really know what to do right now, so... time to be social! Suddenly, there were three knocks on the door. Yeah, ponies knocking on Discord's door doesn't have a very good track record. But hey, he was in a new town now! This door didn't have a peepy hole like his last house's door, so he just opened up. Stood there, was a black pony, quite tall, holes in her legs? Holes in her horn, and a blue mane? It took Discord a moment to realize, she was a changeling! "Hello, sir" Sir? Discord loved being called sir! "You've just moved in, right? We're the neighbors!" Oh, goody! "Oh, please, come in!" Discord budged out the way and invited her in. She seemed like a nice pony, despite her "off" appearance. "Have a seat, miss..." Oh, the most cliched moment in the book. "Chrysalis, my name is. Some people call me queen, I don't call myself that though." What? A queen? The changeling sat on the couch and Discord sat with her. "The name's Discord, m' lady!" he said, holding out a paw for a hoof-shake. Chrysalis shook, finding the "m' lady" joke rather funny. "So, what's the little guy called?" Starswirl was drawing on the floor, drawing... very good, actually! His pencil work must have been a lot steadier now he could use magic. "He's Starswirl, very hyper-active, fast learner!" Discord answered her. The foal continued drawing, Chrysalis looking... oddly concerned. "So, what brings you here?" She asked. "How do you mean?" Discord replied, it seemed as if there must have been a clear reason as to why he was hear. "Most folk who come around here are on the run in some way, and almost always they never actually did anything wrong, this the case with you?" Discord actually believed this was true, you know, apart from the years of torment and chaos he had been giving Celestia! W "I had to come here because I was afraid the princesses would offer Starswirl here would be taken off me." he didn't hold back as he spoke, just like Starswirl, he don't give a sh*t! "Of course, it's understandable. My children already were taken..." Well, that escalated quickly. "All of them, just like that." Discord couldn't help but feel somewhat sorry for Chrysalis. He wanted to know more, so he patted her on the back and reassured her. "Don't worry about it, you'll get them back!" Discord seemed to have lit a flame of Chrysalis at this point. "Oh, I'm getting them back! Every one of them! What right to the princesses have to take my children? They just needed a place to stay, food to eat... now... I feel their pain. I am drained." She started sobbing. "I'm left with nothing." Wow, great neighbors! Starswirl, noticing Chrysalis, got up from his drawing and groomed Chrysalis's leg using his soft face. This made her grin slightly. "Look, if you say you're getting them back, I reckon you will one day." Discord wasn't all that good at cheering ponies up, but at least he tried, at least he didn't just let her suffer. "Thanks, that helps." She managed to regain her composer. "I just want to see them again..." Or not. Oh Celestia, would he? He would! He would have to! With reluctance, Discord... hugged Chrysalis. He hardly knew her, but he knew what it was like to raise a child, losing many of them must be a huge pain on her. She hugged back slightly. Of course, Discord was happy to finally let go. "Uhm, sorry. You looked sad." Awk-ward! "No no, it's fine! You're a nice draconequus, and I've met a few. The ones I've met were all sons of-" *cough cough!* Discord interrupted Chrysalis and pointed out there was a foal in the room. "Oh, right sorry..." Discord was about to let loose his comedy genius! "No no, it's fine! You're a nice changeling, and I've met a few in..." Discord spoke sarcastically, Chrysalis loved it, laughing out loud! "Oh Discord, it's been nice seeing you." She got up from the chair. Dammit, they were just bonding really well! "Of course, I'll see you... uhm..." huh, when would they see each other again? "Whenever?" Perfect" "Whenever!" Discord opened the door for her, like a gentleman. "M' lady, right this way!" Chuckling all the well, Chrysalis waved goodbye and left. Closing the door behind, Discord felt like an absolute douche! He smacked himself in the face! He turned to Starswirl and quickly made his point. "Starswirl, let's get some sleep, I clearly need it!"