//------------------------------// // CH 5: Design Differences // 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) To say that Trevor was unhappy would have been as redundant as saying that water is wet. Two things were the cause of Trevor’s ire. One, based on his limited interaction with the other worlder Discord, any and all antics his sister Daisy usually made, seem tame. Two was the room move chit (paper) posted on the door to his living quarters. Despite Trevor’s best efforts to avoid being associated with a house, Skeleton had forced him into one. It was really the latter that made Trevor frustrated. Why now? I thought everyone, including the staff and COC (chain of command), knew my desire to stay away from the social pressures the houses made and, or, caused. I don’t want to socialize, I just want to serve out my contract and maybe set off for some closure, on some exploratory Civie mission. The only consolation that Trevor could take was, at the very least, it was still stand down. So it would be about a week before students were due to return. One week that Trevor didn’t have to, really, be a part of the culture the houses produced. Still it was a hassle. It took a total of about two hours for Trevor to have packed his belongings in prep for moving across campus. The particular house Trevor was assigned to was directly across the academy from the basic barracks. His uniforms neatly tucked into his garment bag, his civilian attire packed in tightly wound rolls in his light blue sea bag. The books, both the types he usually read, one assigned for the course work, and the recreational reading, nonfiction history, tucked in neatly, along with his constructs, in just a regular black backpack. The more he packed the more he grew to dislike the matter. Once his possessions were packed Trevor just let out a sigh. Orders are orders thought Trevor as he slipped out the room he had since starting at Belfiore. There might have been, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was the summer stand down, fellow cadets that would have given congratulations, or condolences, on Trevor’s forced acceptance to a house. As it stood though, Trevor left for his new lodgings, alone. What were referred as the Houses, really nothing more than a slight homage to the family lines that fought in the Tournament Era (the Freeborn’s being the founding ancestors of Caelum). Those whom were a part of a House were held to a higher standard then the average cadet, but what was given in return made it worth it. Those who belonged to a house, depending on the prestige of the House, were given preferential treatment and choice orders. Even the living spaces were vastly better then the non-house barracks. For starters, the Houses, looked like houses. Brick fenced properties with well maintained yards (courtesies of the restricted students or third party businesses), Iron gates that controlled the flow onto and off from the properties. A decorative name placard stating which House was in charge of the living quarters. Gently sloped and shingled roofs of a tan color, brown/red bricked exterior with the same tan shutters on the windows. Inside the building was the latest furnishings. Real wooded panels covered the walls, modern and pleasing art adorn upon the wooded accents. A full communal kitchen, complete with a range top and oven. Bedrooms furnished with better beds, mattresses, chairs, and closets. A full bathroom for each room, not just a shower and a small almost useless sink. All to make the Houses feel like a home. All of this, even in the lowest standing House quarters, was the basic standard for any personnel belonging to a House. This was all a striking contrast to the regular barracks, of soulless grey concrete, stark white painted and empty p-ways and the very basic necessities of the regular barracks. Leaving little mystery as to why many sought to be a part of a House as soon as possible. Trevor’s 20 minute trek across the campus grounds ended at his newly assigned and currently nameless house. The brick wall separating the campus from the House ended at the placard with out a name (on account of the House being newly formed.) For now, the building seemed empty of life, when the students of Belfiore returned, who knew how many would join. My only consolation is I should be alone for twelve or so days. thought Trevor, after a sigh. Step by step, Trevor made his way to the entrance of his new residence. Though, what ever small bit of comfort Trevor held about living in the residence alone died entirely once he stood in the entranceway. Standing in the center of the foyer was a strange man, dressed in drag (a french maid outfit), with a familiar snaggled tooth smile. Trevor knew him…somehow, but couldn’t place a name to the face. Once he could though, Trevor was almost certain he would hate it. “Welcome Master, to la maison de Equus.” Said the man in a falsetto voice, with obvious traces of the voice that had came from the wardrobe… It…It couldn’t be. “Now Master,” the stranger, whom Trevor was beginning to suspect was the mismatched creature he saw before, fluttered his eyes in a flirty manner, “Do you wish me to take your bags to your room?” A toothy grin grew on the man’s face. “What the void?” Asked Trevor aloud, his frustration apparent in his tone. A soft velvety whimsical voice chuckled, then cackled madly. “Ah…That, that right there is what makes everything I do worth it. That look of absolute confusion. Consider this a little revenge for the history lesson.” “History lesson?” “The one you gave me to the back of the head, it gave me a lump you know” Discord showed the back of his head. There a small comical hill, protruding from the back of his skull, could be seen through his hair. “D-D-Discord?” Trevor stuttered. He was beginning to suspect why he had new living arrangements. The new semester coming up, being stuck with this creature, was something he was not looking forward to. “The one and only, don’t let my other selves deceive you.” Several Discords popped into existence all claiming to be Discord before popping back out. So quickly did it happen, it all seem as if it was an illusion. “But your human? How did you change? What ever it was that made it’s way into my wardrobe looked as if it was one of the Artist’s original ideas, not this.” “Now that’s just insulting. I would like to think that some of this” Discords form shimmered briefly before the dragonequus’ true appearance was shown. With a sweeping circular gesture indicated his whole being, before turning human once again, “is found in this form!” “Why do you look human and why are you—” “Here? Well to answer the first part second, you could say your particular brand of magic has me quite a bit curious, so I figured I’d stick around to see just what becomes of it. And for the second part first, I’m like this because Skelly didn’t want panic in the streets…you call them streets right? No matter…He’s dead set on this too, despite my two hour seminar on the benefits on chaos induced panic. Why popcorn is a universal must, and I do really mean universal must, when watching said chaos happen. Even got a pink party pony to endorse me on this fact!!” “What?” Trevor’s eye visibly twitched. “What’s on second. And even better!” Discord’s Smile grew even wider, “We’re going to be ROOMMATES!” Quick as lightening Discord snatched up Trevor and all his belongings before, with a soft snap and pop, Teleported to Trevor’s, and apparently Discord’s, new room. Location: ER-0 Equus Origin Ponyville, Ponyville Train Station 1003 C.E (or 3 R.E.) Twilight had always enjoyed riding the Friendship Express. The hour or two ride from her once home in Canterlot to ponyville and her library, now turned castle, was always a peaceful affair. She often used the time to de-stress after visiting her once teacher, now co-ruler of a sort, or prepare for what ever new task that said princess had assigned her. Today, her ride home was the former. Dealing with Discord’s antics, feeling despair at loosing something, both too precious and priceless, like Starswirl’s journal, elation at realizing it wasn’t lost to the granules of time, and lastly the bittersweet, yet heartfelt goodbye by, what was arguably, Twilight’s oldest friend. Lazily laying across the seating, Twilight began to relax. Starting with the calming breathing exorcises, then pondering some long standing magical discrepancies. By the time the express had pulled into the station in Ponyville Twilight’s morning had felt like a distant memory. Long into Luna’s night, she gathered her things and stepped off onto the platform, expecting nopony to greet her. Twilight’s friends with their own daily lives, plus the mare’s own respect for their needs, didn’t inform them of her late night departure. She would just let them know she returned tomorrow…or later that day, Twilight wasn’t quite sure if it had passed midnight yet. So, when a pony sized ball of pink tackled her, and pinned her with her hooves, Twilight was quite surprised. “Hi-twilight-did-you-have-a-good-time-in-Canterlot-I-mean-I-know-I-wouldn’t-with-all-of-the-ponies-that-live-there-act-like-some-sort-of-snobby-mcmeaner-pants-well-not-Fancy-Pants-or-Fluer-Dis-Lee-so-I-guess-not-all-ponies-in-Canterlot-are-total-snobs-even-still-living-there-would-be-like-an-unending-boring-part-of-the-gala-party-like-every-day-which-is-ok-for-someponies-but-not-for-pinkie-no-way-so-did-anything-intresting-happen-while-you-were-doing-your-princess-duty-stuffs?” Pinkie asked with a *squee* Twilight understood half of that, as per usual when her peculiar friend spoke so rapidly without breathing. So not to seem rude by ignoring what she said, Twilight simply asked her to repeat her question. “Did anything exciting happen when you where in Canterlot Twi~light?” Pinkie repeated with a slight annoyed tone. I think I was pretty clear when I asked the question…I…I just need to confirm what I think happened. “Well, the summit went smoothly, Now with an official title, and the last bit of damage Tirek caused a few months ago finally fixed all I did was talk to a few representatives, nothing too exciting. In fact the whole trip was pretty standard royal duties, which both Princess Celestia and Luna handled. It was Quiet for most of my time there, even cracked open a book to read, before I thought I lost it for good…” Twilight trailed off Pinkie just gave an inquisitive look, tilting her head a bit. “Discord…He pulled some pranks earlier today,” Twilight looked up realizing it was closer to dawn then dusk, “or yesterday…anyway, he started with pranking Celestia by messing with her cake.” Pinkie gasped and a single tear fell, “That Fiend!” “Er, right. Well, after that he messed with Luna and Cadence, and by extension my brother…though Cadence wasn’t really forthcoming about what happened…He kept going until he destroyed my book. At that point I wanted nothing to do with him, and the other princesses were in a agreement, so we sent him away.” “Really?! Where? Did you send him to Cloudsdale? or Appleloosa? the Bad lands? Oh! Oh! I know you sent him to the MOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNAAAAAAA?” Twilight chuckled, “To be honest, I didn’t really have a destination in mind, just anyplace that wasn’t there. I think the other princesses did the same. I’m sure it will be fine, he’s got to be somewhere on Equus right? Hey! How did you know I returned from Canterlot anyway?” “Pinkie sense! Split hair at the end of my tail means somepony I know is returning from a train ride!” “But Pinkie, you know everypony in Ponyville! Lots of ponies leave and return by train, all the time. How could you possibly know that it was me re—” It was then that Twilight remembered who she was talking to, “Never mind.” “Okie-dokie-loki! Say Twilight, could you do me a tinsy tiny smally wally little favor?” “It’s a little late in the evening Pinkie,” Pinkie just gave her best puppy dog eyes, “*sigh*…Ok…” The defeated Twilight gave her reply. “Do you pinkie promise to help me with my little favor? “Why would you need that?” “Could you just do it? It would mean the world to me…” “Fine…Cross my heart. Hope to fly, Stick a cupcake in my ey—OW!” “GGGGRRRRRRREEEAAATTT!!” Cheered the vibrantly pink mare, “I have an amazing prank I want to pull on dashie, b~ut it could use a little help. Could you possible use your supper secret but not so secret spell that summons Discord. I need a cotton candy cloud to make this work” Pinkie finished, looking strangely serious. Please let me be wrong… “WHAT!!? Pinkie why would you even think that after this morning I would want anything to do with Dis—“ “You PINKIE PROMISED and it sounds like your going to break it…” Twilight gulped. “But its…” Pinkie’s look cut Twilight off, “fine… I’ll do it.” The purple mare knew it was almost never worth it to break a pinkie promise, after all the fasted way to loose a friend… “Thanks Twilight! I knew I could count on you!” Twilight just gave a sheepish smile, She really, really didn’t want to do this. Still, a pinkie promise was a pinkie promise, even if it was an asinine request more trouble then what it’s worth. Still might as well get this over with she thought. With a quick bit of mental work Twilight started on the summoning spell. Her magenta colored aura emitting from her horn, a rapid charge of energy now being focused, She started her search for Discord’s “key”, his unique magical signature in the form of a leash. Having found it, the mare released her spell and gave an ethereal tug. A bright flash enveloped the train station platform, briefly illuminating the surroundings as if Celestia’s sun was above them. When the bright light dissipated a tub filled to the brim with water, soapy suds floating in the bath, like the previous time she had used the spell, but with one glaring exception. There was no Discord. I did the spell right. But, I don’t sense him…Even if he was waiting to surprise me or pull some sort of elaborate prank, This spell marks him for a brief period so at the very least I know he is near enough for him to hear me. but I sense nothing… So, Where is he? “So Twilight…when are you going to summon Discord?” The pink party mare asked with a worried tone. “I just did…or at least what I cast was suppose to. Maybe if I try again…” Repeating the same steps as before, receiving the same result, “This, This can’t be good.” At that precise moment a young and boyish yell called to the two mares standing on the train platform. “TWILIGHT!” called out a bipedal lizard, with a slight pot body, purple scales soft yellow scales and underbelly, green spines growing in a line from the top of his head to the very back of his tail. Spike, baby dragon and Twilight’s number one assistant the source of the shout. “Spike!? What are you doing up so late?” scolded Twilight, watching as the little drake run toward them. When he thought he was close enough to talk at a conversational level, he slowed to a walk then stopped, out of breath, his claws on his knees. “Letter….Princess…Important…” Spike relayed between breaths, one claw producing a scroll Twilight hadn’t noticed he had, the other still on his knee. The lavender mare encompassed the scroll in her magenta aura, relieving Her assistant of his current charge. Though his breathing slowed, Spike still wasn’t fully recovered, so his now open claw moved back to his knees. “I was just in Canterlot. If the princess had something very important to tell me,” Twilight unfurled the scroll and started to read, “I’m sure she would have informed me while…I…was…there…” Twilight froze. The contents of the letter finally making sense, filling the normally happy mare with a tremendous fear. Dear Twilight Sparkle, I am afraid that in our handling of Discord earlier in the morning, what had happened has presented a dilemma that must be addressed in the fastest possible means. It seems in our haste and anger to rid ourselves of his childish antics, the combined forces of our spells and lack of destination, we have violated one of the cardinal rules. We breached a barrier into another realm. Worse yet, it seems he was sent to a non-Equus realm, one where the Representative not only is charged with guarding, but has and active role in it’s day to day affairs. Skeleton found Discord. I need you to gather the Element Bearers, the power of the elements will be necessary to open a portal to his realm. I am afraid I must send you after Discord, before any damage can be done, accidental or otherwise. I am truly sorry for this burden. Signed, Princess Celestia Adrenaline pumping through her very vanes, Twilight galloped to Golden Oaks Library, as fast as her fore and aft legs could carry her. It was unfortunate that, in her rush to her home and safe shelter, Spike was violently yanked with Twilight’s magic before being forcefully shoved onto the mare’s back. All that Twilight could think to do was prepare. Prepare as best as she could manage, before she would have to come face to face with the scariest being she had ever met. Barely noticing the way the pink mare calmly watched her gallop off. Slowly Pinkie move over to the scroll Twilight had left behind one the ground and read it over confirming what she had already guessed, and now starting to plan to correct. Oh, Twilight… You aren’t ready to handle this. The Pink mare thought soberly, But, I’ll help you out as best I can. Elsewhere Location: R-13 Farway, Caelum Cygnus, Belfiore Academy 2037 P.C.E. (Post Creator Era) Classes were Scheduled to begin in a little less then two weeks. It was something Trevor usually dreaded, as it always seems to bring back all the unwelcome invitations to join a house. While the two largest Houses, Oaklandus and Volcain, had largely given up in trying to coerce Trevor into their ranks, some of the lesser Houses never received the hint. Not that it mattered much anymore, The CO just forced him into a House anyway. But, now? Now, Trevor couldn’t wait to leave the hell his new roommate was causing him. He began to suspect it was going to be a very long twelve days, after recovering from his disorientation at suddenly appearing in what would be his new room, and Discord started, and it looked as if he wouldn’t stop. “So? How should we do this? Hmm…” Pondered Discord, “I mean this room is just so drab. Even that almost emotionless sister to that pink mare, would find this dull…it just needs to be spruced up a bit don’t you think?” Discord asked rhetorically, going ahead to change the room with a snap of his fingers. Trevor just shuddered in horror, well, no, in revulsion. It looked as if the whole room was decorated like someone vomited flowers on everything. The walls covered in a tacky pink and red flowered wall paper, somehow yellowed in age despite being brand new to the room. The curtains a light tan with yellowed tulips embroidered in a realistic fashion instead of a much more pleasant stylized form. It looked horrible, before trevor notices the overabundance of doilies covering the furniture. “Too tacky.” *snap* Now in place of a horribly decorated flower theme, the whole room was much darker in color scheme. The walls now painted a solid black with decorative blood red skulls inlaid in a group of four pattern. Curtains a dark red brown color of a silky quality replaced the tacky flowered ones beforereminding Trevor of old blood stains. “Too Dark” *snap* Now everything was in a rainbows. From the carpet in the room, to the racks, and ceiling. Nothing was spared from the prismatic pattern. A small twitch of Trevor’s eye betrayed his growing frustration. It also didn’t help that the overwhelming amount of color was starting to strain his eyes too. “Too…” Discord rolled his hands thinking of the most appropriate world, “Arrogant” *Snap* *Snap* *Snap* *Snap* “Ah. Now this is more like it! Wouldn’t you agree, Troy, or Trainer, or Trey, or what ever your name is…” What Discord had settled on was, least to Trevor’s opinion, probably the worst decoration out of all the previous options. The walls were a checkered teal and pink in various configurations, yet none of the “squares” actually had straight lines. A transparent film like curtains drawn to a close, and somehow, in a manner that couldn’t quite compute with the young ensign’s mind, blocked the light shining from Farway’s sun. Vase’s grew from inside flower pedals sitting on the rooms desks, which like the rest of the furniture in the room, were plastered on the ceiling. Trevor’s calm and collected manner, the way he usually conducted himself, was faltering quickly. “And now for the beds!” *Snap* Now one of the racks, the one Discord was going to use he supposed, turned into some candy apple red form of a C.A.R. streamlined to look as if it could move as fast as a line pistol’s magic bullet. Made of some hard yet strangely shiny and flexible material Trevor had never seen before. All these things he took in stride, albeit tenuously, until Discord started to affect the possessions Trevor had. “Now after we deal with your bed, Let’s improve that boring attire you seem so attached to.” And with that Discord grabbed up one of the only things Trevor’s father had left him. A small picture frame of with a photo of Trevor at the age of eight, and his father at the pier his ship was moored (docked) at, before his disappearance some sixteen years ago. Trevor then Snapped. “ENOUGH!,” Bellowed Trevor, the actions of the chaos making being in front of him proving too much, “Return this room to regs RIGHT NOW! And GET OUT! FIND ANOTHER ROOM IN THIS EMPTY HOUSE!!” Discord seemed shocked, never really expecting this sort of response from what Skeleton had informed him about Trevor, his expression soured. “Why, I never…Here I am hoping to give some life to this place, all for you might I add, and you rebuff me!” retorted the master of chaos *Snap* the room returned to it’s original manner, save Discords bed. Because, As Discord put it, it’s what all the cool kids want. Still Trevor wasn’t having it. “Leave and find another room!” seethed Trevor through gritted teeth. “I can’t nor would I just do that.” “THEN I’LL LEAVE!” “Also can’t let that happen either,” Discord’s grin grew impossibly wide, “You see, I asked Skelly for a favor, well, two favors really. First was a way to get back to my home realm…Working on that by the way. Second, was to have you as my assistant in my little mission to add a little chaos here and there at this academy. With your 'buck the system' attitude in regards to the Houses and what they do here on the campus grounds, just made you the perfect candidate for such a thing. Skelly was in total agreement and set up a new House on the spot!” Somehow, Trevor was doubtful about that, “In order to carry out my little mission, all that was needed was to give me an instructor position here for the next year or so. Aaaand to have you help m~e, al he need to do was to put you in an unaffiliated new House, Which in case you forgot we’re House Equus, and make me it’s guardian.” Trevor could not believe such a wild tale. What in the void, was that Author’s tale? I mean how does something like this happen here!? This is belfiore not some civie, college. What, by the Named, is going on? Everything that’s happening here is soooo out of regs it’s a bad joke. I know I was ordered to look after this creature. All because I somehow have gained, spontaneously, high levels of active magic, and that it’s supposedly tailored to handle something like him in line if he goes rouge. But that doesn’t mean I have to be subjected to this, or live with this insufferable thing, just to keep a weary eye on it. It was at that point Trevor made up his mind, hoping, however futile it was, he could successfully convince the CO to return him to the student barracks. I’ll go first thing in the morning. being Trevor’s last thought on the matter.